"You are NOT a drop in the ocean. You are the ENTIRE ocean in a drop."
— Rumi
Truth.
It is said to set you free.
Fear.
The great shackle of life. It brings rigidity and contraction, tightening with each news cycle, and fueling uncertainty about the future.
In yoga, there is a Sanskrit word: Satya.
It means the practice of truth and sincerity. But Satya goes beyond mere factual accuracy — beyond what is objectively “true” at any given moment. It is a shift from rigid, black-and-white thinking, which often dominates our perception, to a more nuanced and interconnected understanding of reality.
The practice of Satya invokes interconnectedness, where truth is seen and deeply felt. It is the clarity we crave —the kind that moves us from constriction to openness, from fear to liberation. It encourages one to speak, act and live from this space. This practice is not exclusive to yoga; it is woven into the wisdom traditions of cultures around the world.
Consider this wisdom from 1 Corinthians 13:12-13 (NIV):
*"When I was a child, I thought, spoke, and reasoned like a child. But as I grew up, I left behind those childish ways. Right now, we only see part of the picture, like looking at a blurry reflection in a mirror. But one day, everything will be clear, and we’ll understand fully — For now, three things last: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love."*
This passage reminds us that our understanding is limited and blurry, but as we grow — both in wisdom and in spirit — we begin to widen our perceptions and see more clearly. John Lennon said it best: "All you need is love. Love is all you need."
When suffering comes knocking, when someone or something challenges our ideals, it helps to remember that our understanding is always evolving. Truth is not a fixed destination; it has layers, dimensions and depth. The truth is that each of us experiences reality differently. What triggers me may not trigger you. And today, discerning what is truly real has never felt more urgent. The vastly different microcosms each of us inhabits is the truth. Ever-growing empathy is required in this practice of Satya or “quest for truth”.
So how do we speak the truth in a way that elevates rather than divides? How can we honor diverse perspectives while maintaining our principles?
These questions are a work in progress, but I believe in the transformation of questions. I believe in the seismic shift that results when we stay insatiably curious about life. And in the end, I know that love makes everything possible.
The Expanding Nature of Truth
Consider the story of Anita Moorjani. The truth was that she had tumors the size of lemons. Her organs were shutting down. Doctors believed she had only hours to live. For four years, she had battled Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and her body was wasting away.
Then, she slipped into a coma. And in that space, her known truth changed.
In her memoir, Dying to Be Me, Moorjani describes a near-death experience (NDE) — a moment of expanded consciousness, profound clarity and deep self-love. Miraculously, she woke up. And within weeks, her tumors disappeared. Her cancer was gone.
The truth exists in layers. On the most basic level, objective reality frames the body as an anatomical structure, a machine of bones, muscles and measurable functions. In Moorjani’s case, this truth took the form of disease, decay and imminent death.
But beyond appearances — a deeper truth emerges. The body, is not just a bag of bones, but a “living field of sensation,” a humming constellation of pain and pleasure, shaped by the swirling forces of thoughts, emotions and beliefs. These forces sculpt the body we inhabit and the world we perceive as reality.
Before her NDE, Moorjani was trapped in a narrow view of truth, like looking at life through a fogged mirror — unable to see beyond her suffering, unable to heal. She needed a profound shift, and it arrived through her near-death experience. When she returned, her awareness had expanded. She no longer saw fragmented pieces but the whole picture. And in seeing wholeness, healing became possible.
The Body as a Vessel for Truth
The deeper we look, the more we discover. Truth — the body is not just a sum of its parts; rather, it is an interconnected system, a web of hormones, nervous system responses and gut-brain communication. Stress, emotions and thought patterns influence the whole web from digestion to immune function and longevity. It is a miracle!
Could it be true that the body is more than flesh and function? Could it be a sacred vessel for consciousness itself?
And if this is true for the physical body, could it not make sense also when we consider the world around us? Consciousness — at work — through layers — that we may not be able to see at this time?
The Practice of Truth
Practicing Satya reveals that truth is not just about “correct” facts; it is an alignment with deeper wisdom. Truth should liberate, not instill fear. The more we seek truth, the more compassion and love we cultivate — for ourselves, for others and for the complexity of life itself.
Kindness and curiosity make fertile soil for truth, allowing the seeds of well-being and understanding to take root. In this garden, we grow closer to the great love and mysteries that connect us all.
“To see a World in a Grain of Sand,
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand,
And Eternity in an hour.” —William Blake
Let's go deep. Truth be told — the time is now.
The layers of truth surround and saturate you, me and everything in between — more truths, more freedom. As we confront our foggy mirrors, let us keep close to the wisdom that three things last: faith, hope and love. And the greatest of these is love.
Try not to lose faith and hope in what is good and right and always hold to love. Let it guide us — in thought, word and action.
"You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the ENTIRE ocean in a drop."
This is the practice of Satya.
May it bring the well-being we all deserve and healing to the communities we share.
written by: Jennifer Reuter