Layers of Satya
Truthful Speech
The most obvious layer: saying what is true. This includes not lying, not exaggerating, not omitting important information, and not using truth as a weapon.
Truthful Living
Living in alignment with your values—not performing a life you don't believe in. Authenticity over appearance. Integrity between inner and outer.
Truthful Perception
The deepest layer: seeing reality clearly without the distortions of wishful thinking, denial, projection, or fear. This is the satya cultivated in meditation.
Satya in Practice
On the Mat
- Be honest about your actual abilities—no pretending
- Notice when you're performing for others vs. practicing for yourself
- Acknowledge what you feel without judgment
- Don't force your body into shapes it can't honestly hold
Off the Mat
- Pause before speaking—is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?
- Notice small lies and exaggerations
- Practice saying "I don't know" when you don't
- Align your actions with your stated values
The Courage of Truth
Satya requires courage. Speaking truth may risk rejection, conflict, or loss. Living authentically means disappointing expectations—others' and our own. Seeing clearly means facing what we'd rather not see.
But the alternative—a life built on deception, performance, and willful blindness—is a kind of suffering. Satya is the path out: uncomfortable in the short term, liberating in the long.
Practice with Integrity
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