Truth

There are three levels of truth:
Experience, reasoning, and knowing.
All others assertions should be rejected.

The first type of truth is experience. Once you have experienced something, you know it. No person can persuade you otherwise.

The second type is truth gained by reasoning. In this case, the truth cannot be immediately verified because the subject is too small (like atomic particles) or too large (like the movement of planets through time) or too abstract (like ideas). Something may be true, but its truth is borne out by analysis rather than physical testing.

Either of these two types of truths has a range of validity. They are relative. Therefore, through truths are superior to falsehood, opinions, beliefs and superstition, they each have limits. There is a third type of truth that is different from these two.

This is a way of direct spiritual knowing. Wholly internal, this mode is the direct experiencing of truth through the opening of higher faculties. Meditation gives one perception of absolute certainty. There is no doubt or need of other investigations; this knowledge is beyond words, descriptions, and rationalizations. In fact, one must be careful not to let the fruits of one’s meditations pass into the realm of rationalization. This will subject you to the relativity of external truths and ruin your confidence. To avoid doubts and conflicting opinions, followers of Tao keep their revelations secret. Then what is known directly is absolutely yours.

Deng Ming Tao, 365 Tao

We should not pretend to understand the world only by the intellect; we apprehend it just as much by feeling. Therefore, the judgement of the intellect is, at best, only the half of truth, as must, if it be honest, also come an understanding of its inadequacy.
— Carl Jung

It is a puzzling thing. The truth knocks on the door and you say, ‘Go away, I’m looking for the truth.’ and so it goes away. Puzzling. — Robert M. Pirsig

Truth springs from argument amongst friends. — David Hume

The personal life deeply lived always expands into truths beyond itself. –Anais Nin

Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it. — Andre Gide

Whosoever wishes to know about the world must learn about it in its particular details.
Knowledge is not intelligence.
In searching for the truth be ready for the unexpected.
Change alone is unchanging.
The same road goes both up and down.
The beginning of a circle is also its end.
Not I, but the world says it: all is one.
And yet everything comes in season.
— Heraklietos of Ephesos

Yes, I have things I know directly. And no, I can’t explain what those things are. If you’ve experienced and known similar things, you know they can’t really be explained anyway. They are simply things you know.

Truth really is always knocking on the door, and you just have to let it come in sometimes. You can still tell it to go away after you visit for a while, if you want. Truth doesn’t really care. It can always come back again later. Sometimes truth likes to sit down with you for a cup of tea.

I know many truths from arguing with friends. By the way, you always lose the argument, even if you think you’ve won. Even if you tell your friend to go away, like you did truth. A real friend will always come back later, and the others, well, they don’t matter so much anyway. Truth will hunt them down later for a cup of tea and a long chat…