Little wonder that truthfulness has traditionally been celebrated as the highest moral virtue, and the foundation of all other virtues. Without truthfulness, recitation is useless. Without truthfulness, asceticism is as unfruitful as seed in barren soil. . . . Truly, truthfulness is the best asceticism. All actions should be rooted in truthfulness.
Nothing is more excellent than truthfulness.
This expresses a sentiment that once was global but that, today, is generally little more than a pretty saying. However, the spiritual traditions of the world, notably Yoga, contain many poignant considerations of the nature of truth and truthfulness, which have lost none of their relevance. That is to say, by being truthful in our words, actions, and even our thoughts, we are automatically true to our own higher nature, which is the ultimate Truth. Therein lies the great power and the real attraction of truthfulness. The Sanskrit word for truthfulness is satya, which is both etymologically and semantically related to sat, denoting that which is real or truly existent, meaning the ultimate Reality.