What is NOT Subjective Truth?
In my last article titled “What is Subjective Truth?”, I talked about the definition of subjective truth and the story of how I came across the term myself. In this article, I’d like to talk about “What is NOT the subjective truth?” in order to give you a clearer image of the term.
Subjective truth is not objective truth
First of all, let me review the definition of subjective truth by reviewing my previous article.
Definition of subjective truth (Ochiai’s definition)
An ideal that makes life worth living for us, a purpose for living that is unique to us. Or, a sense of direction here and now that leads to those ideals and purposes.
The most important thing to remember about subjective truth is that it is “the truth for oneself” and is different from objective truth, which is right for everyone. What is good for oneself, what is enjoyable, what one wants to aim for, and what makes one happy are not necessarily the same as what the world says is good, what one should aim for, and what is considered happy.
On the other hand, it does not mean that we have to be different from the objective truth. Forcing oneself to find or create uniqueness or individuality is also a way of being trapped in the “world’s standards and what is considered good.”
I think it’s best to just take it as what naturally and intuitively seems to be the “truth” for oneself.
Subjective truth is not something that can be verbalized entirely
Since subjective truth is the unique purpose of life, it is naturally different for each individual. Language, on the other hand, is a sign that allows people to have a common image of each other. We can think of language as a way for people to share a common image of what they have experienced and what would be beneficial to have in common.
When we think about it, we can see that subjective truth, which differs from one person to another, cannot always be explained by words, which have been the common sign of humanity up to now. For example, suppose we imagine a new “X” that does not exist on earth. How can this X be verbalized?
Since there is no direct word to describe X, we have to use a metaphorical expression with words that have similar images to X. For example, “X is something that is close to A, but also contains the nuance of B.”
As we can see, subjective truth cannot be verbalized in its entirety. There is no need to worry about the lack of clarity or verbalization of subjective truth. By its very nature, it is difficult to verbalize.
On the other hand, even if subjective truth cannot be verbalized in its entirety, verbalizing and consciously connecting some of it to one’s daily work and activities will lead to an increased sense of fulfillment and happiness. It is not so much that verbalizing and making conscious is important in itself, but rather that the sense of fulfillment and happiness will be enhanced when we spend our days feeling and experiencing the connection with the subjective truth.
It can be said that visions, dreams are the crystallization of one aspect of the subjective truth at any given time. If you think of a cube like a dice, and the subjective truth is that cube, then the visions, dreams represent one aspect of that cube. Or you can think of it as a shadow that is created when you shine light on the cube.
Although this is a bit of a roundabout way of expressing it, it can be said that subjective truth is not something that can be fully verbalized, but even one aspect of it can be verbalized and made conscious in the form of a vision, a dream, and linking it to daily work and activities will lead to a greater sense of fulfillment and happiness.
Subjective truth is neither given nor created
Subjective truth is something that is there, not something that is given or created. It can be found, but it doesn’t mean finding something that isn’t there, it means noticing something that is there.
Even if subjective truth is not verbalized at this time, it does not mean that there is no subjective truth, only that it is not verbalized. Also, even if subjective truth is not visible, it does not mean that there is no subjective truth, only that it is not yet formed.
Picture yourself in a situation where you are surrounded by the seeds of a plant that has many beautiful flowers flying around it. In this metaphor, the beautiful flowers represent the subjective truth. The beautiful flower itself has not yet bloomed, but its seeds are there, ready to bloom when the soil, water, and other conditions are prepared.
Therefore, there is no need to try to force oneself to find subjective truth. It should already be around us, and even if it is difficult to see, it is better to take it easy and wait for it to appear naturally.
Subjective truth has nothing to do with big or small, good or bad, high or low
There is no big or small, good or bad, noble or low regarding subjective truth. The only thing that matters is whether or not we are connected to our true self. The only thing that matters is whether or not energy comes naturally to us and whether or not it is something that we want to do no matter what anyone else says. The theme can be for the world or for ourselves. It can be for the well-being of humanity as a whole, or it can be to support the Yomiuri Giants.
Therefore, there is no meaning in comparing the content of subjective truth with others or with some standard. There is no big or small, good or bad, noble or low.
The question “Which do you like better, apples or oranges?” is possible, but the question “Which is higher, apples or oranges?” is meaningless. An apple is an apple, and an orange is an orange. The difference in subjective truths is the same as the difference in species, and there is no sense in making comparisons.
The fact that there is no point in making comparisons means that we are not denying or being denied our own subjective truth or the subjective truth of others. There is no need to be concerned if others deny what we believe to be connected to our subjective truth.It is the maturity of a person to be able to understand and accept the subjective truths of others as they are.
Subjective truth is not a fixed matter.
(It exists in the energy dimension, not in the matter dimension.)
Subjective truth is not something that seems to have taken shape and become fixed. It is possible to accomplish something or have something take shape as a result of working in connection with subjective truth.
This is the case of an artist who has created a work of art by connecting to his or her own subjective truth. However, while this work of art can be said to have been created by connecting to subjective truth, this does not mean that the work itself is subjective truth.
The subjective truth is of the energy dimension, not the matter dimension.
Energy (like electrical energy, for example) can run a computer, a heating and cooling system, or an electric car. Energy is mutable. On the other hand, just as a computer can’t immediately turn into a heating and cooling device, matter can’t easily change its form.
In the example of the artist mentioned above, the subjective truth for the artist is “something to express” and “passion to express” within the artist. And that is of the energy dimension, and from that energy, the matter dimension of each work of art is created.
Subjective truths are of the energy dimension and can take on transformative forms in the material dimension.
Once we grasp this feeling, our flexibility in living in subjective truth will increase dramatically. While we are connected to the subjective truth in the energy dimension, the way we express and embody it in the matter dimension is flexible, allowing us to respond flexibly to the environment of the moment.
This is the key to integrating the contradictions and conflicts of living in subjective truth and living in harmony with one’s surroundings, the “social implementation of subjective truth.”
In a previous article, I wrote that the relationship between organizations and individuals is changing, and that the future will be an era of “equal relationships between individuals and organizations, relationships of collaboration and agreement based on mutual subjective truths and aspirations. “
The key to realizing this “collaboration based on mutual subjective truths” is to have the sense that since the subjective truths are in the energy dimension, there is a great deal of flexibility in how they are embodied in the matter dimension, and that there are many ways to overlap them.
As I mentioned about the relationship between organizations and individuals, the same can be said about the collaborative relationship between individuals. A flexible sense of embodiment of subjective truths facilitates the overlapping of mutual subjective truths (visions, goals, objectives, etc.) and the development of essential collaborative relationships.
Here are the quests of the day. (If you’d like, please share your thoughts in the comments.)
・What experiences, if any, have you had in which a good collaborative relationship was created through the overlapping of mutual subjective truths?
・What is the difference in texture between the “subjective truth itself” in the energy dimension and the “embodiment of the subjective truth” in the matter dimension?
Bunshiro Ochiai
