The Simplest of Truths is a blend of essays and stories that focus on spirituality and relationships. It does not fit neatly into any mainstream ideology, but instead centers on principles of fair-mindedness and respect as a foundation to traditional morality. While the framework of the book is on the religious side, its tone is not evangelical in its purpose.
Condensed down to the very basics, the book explores the greater awareness of self and enlightenment by embracing three truths: peace, equality, and the sanctity of life. This process starts with identifying the peace hidden at the core of one's being. The second two, equality and the sanctity of life, are presented as mandates on how people should strive to treat each other. According to the text, these truths should become the foundation of how people live. It also leans heavily on embracing the values of respect, honesty, integrity, and wisdom. These principles are the living soil that rests upon the bedrock of the simplest of truths.
This book is structured as a journey through life. Each section includes an introduction, a collection of essays or parables, and finally, one part of a narrative about Arthur that connects the threads of the other components. The poems that open each chapter of the Arthur storyline are expressions of fear, hate, anger, peace, love and life.
- Coping with our emotions. It touches on one's actions and their effects. This is a reflection of early childhood as these are the first defining points in a young person's life.
- Adapting to the world around us. This is about dealing with the traffic in one's life. This can be especially representative of life up through adolescence.
- Knowing where you came from, finding your place in the world, and ultimately understanding where you are going. These concepts are the defining point moving into early adult life, but it can also stretch out over decades.
- A recipe for living. This recipe is defined by emotions and relationships with each other, with God, and even with nature.
- Examining the circle of life and the role of parenthood. It touches on an extended responsibility shared by everyone in building tomorrow. It follows the tenet that in each generation there should be a promise to carefully shape the one following.
- Leadership and government. It takes a look at how a measured democracy is the most capable type of government for ensuring equal representation, guaranteeing human rights, the freedoms of all citizens and curbing the corruption that comes with the powers of prestige, privilege, and affluence.
- A reflection. The last section looks back on the author's journey in writing this book and some of the ideas that particularly stand out to him.
Many elements in this book also have an essence that links it back to the natural world.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
I believe that it is critical that we include our relationship with the environment in the core of a holistic approach to life and faith. Without a caring attitude toward our spiritual, social, and ecological environments, a healthy, balanced lifestyle is not obtainable. So we must also take this one step further and apply that same measured approach to that relationship which we all share with our environment. If we can do this, we can then create a better state of being for ourselves, our societies, the world we share and ultimately, the world our grandchildren will share.
