Being economical with the truth. I'm sure we've all done this to some degree or other and actually sometimes it's the kinder thing to do - right? A few words of encouragement can mean a great deal even if we're not speaking exactly what we think.
However, not being transparent or 'dis honest' for personal gain I feel is wrong.
I recently took a weeks break and booked a lovely looking converted barn, in East Sussex. It took me a long time to find somewhere which would accommodate all our groups needs and was a bit of an experiment.
I was planning on spending quite a bit of time at the property with my dogs, relaxing in the 'peaceful, rural environment' described as a 'tranquil retreat in your own space'.
We'd booked and paid up front several months earlier so were not aware of a disclaimer about building work (which was apparently put on the website a few weeks ago). Neither was there any mention in the description that the accommodation shared the outside space with the hosts along with another letting. It was in fact the driveway and car park to the hosts home.
In yoga the yamas and niyamas are the moral and ethical codes, first mentioned in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. Satya is the second yama (Sutra 2.36) and is about truthfullness. It comes after ahimsa (Sutra 2.35) which means non harm. Which is interesting isn't it - that non harm comes before truth? Sometimes it's kinder not to speak the 'blatant truth'.
However, sometimes being economical with the truth (as I feel was the case with our airbnb hosts) crosses a line and becomes 'dis honest', especially when important facts aren't revealed?
It's made me think more about truth and what truth really means to us. How much we value our own principles. Here's a really nice piece in Yoga International by Irene Petryszak who shares her own experience. https://yogainternational.com/article/view/satya-a-practice-of-truthfulness
So satya = truth. But it's meant to mean even more than this. It's about integrity, beliefs, principles, motives, duty or dharma. What is the truth in our heart? How do we behave when others can't see what we're doing? When we're not looking for reward or praise?
I've been reading a recommended (kids) version of the Bhagavad Gita, by Poopa Pai, which is a really good, accessible translation of the context behind this Indian Epic.
In the story the main character is constantly challenged to question his own truths, motives, integrity? The call to fight, be a warrior and having the courage to do so is all part of the story. It's about duty, action, and renunciation. The three major themes being knowledge, action, and love.
The story suggests that sometimes we have to stand up for what we believe to be the right thing. Be a warrior - like Arjuna.
As I've returned to my yoga mat this week I'm so aware of this. The challenging poses, familiarity of practice, help focus the mind as well as keep us physically strong and mobile. Practicing asana will expose our physical truths here too - like it or not our physical weakness will show up on the mat!
Being present, doing the right thing, not focusing on the outcome (a guaranteed booking), might have prompted the airbnb hosts to do the right/true thing and inform their guests more accurately about their rental?
Meanwhile, I'm channelling my inner warrior in dealing with airbnb and hopefully getting something back in return.
Namaste
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