Truth cannot be found through an ideology. An ideology is restrictive. It sets boundaries within which one must operate. It is not open to facts, however true, that is beyond the boundaries. An ideology becomes one, only when large number of people accepts that as such. Altering the ideology can render it irrelevant to many of its followers, leading to a loss of support and, eventually, the demise of the ideology itself. To keep itself alive, the norms or beliefs are almost etched in stone.
An ideology binds an individual. It creates an identity and a sense of belonging among its adherents. There is a level of comfort that one derives. As one promotes one’s subscribed ideology to others, one’s own sense of identity and ego is reinforced. It will be hard after that to accept anything that is beyond the boundaries of that ideology. It is like losing oneself — a deeply unsettling and a scary feeling. Due to this the truth slips away and one gets entrenched in repetitive routines without finding the truth.
Ideas, on the other hand, are an open-ended and flexible thought process. They can be stated, accepted, rejected, or modified, to be relevant to the times and always open to new information flowing. This inherent uncertainty fosters an atmosphere of openness, encouraging one to remain receptive to evolving knowledge. Navigating through this uncertainty provides the strength and courage required to explore new ways of thinking and to adapt to changing times.
A seeker’s path is one that of openness through questioning everything till the Truth is found.
