ASK NO QUESTIONS and HEAR NO LIES.

The paradoxical nature of the proverb ‘Ask no questions and hear no lies’ often suggests that sometimes, it’s better not to delve too deeply into some issues to avoid unpleasant truths. It implies that ignorance can sometimes prevent conflicts or uncomfortable revelations, yet it also hints at the potential dangers of such ignorance.

What could life be like when questions swarm from all directions, people and situations? The mere thought can be overwhelming. Yet, who wouldn’t feel a profound sense of relief at the prospect of finding solace in a no man’s land, away from the relentless barrage of questions?

CHARLES DICKENS must have experienced incredible pressure while coining the phrase, “Ask no questions and hear no lies.”

Do we realise that our lives are so complicated and intricate that if we try to find answers to all the questions – by the time we become Einstien, the questions will have changed?

Here lies the crux of the matter-

*Why do we resort to lies?

*Are we inherently deceitful?

*Do we lie to manipulate others, or,

*Do we try to side-step potential conflicts and counter-questions?

A single lie, once exposed, casts doubt on all our truths.

It’s all about giving space and understanding in any relationship while avoiding superfluous questions—“Less the questions, less the lies.” Asking questions or being nosey about other people’s actions is a lousy habit. It may be a precursor to the tendency to FOMO {the fear of missing out} or even self-created insecurities.

What do you expect from a henpecked husband who has to enumerate his daily activities with his fidgety wife? – Where were you? — Why are you late? – What did you eat? – Why did you talk to that lady? The more questions, the more lies. So, who is at fault? – the wife or the husband?

Similarly, an arrogant MCP husband verbally molests his meek and docile wife when she returns home from a job or a kitty party.

Do we have the courage to put it straight across the table? – ‘Please don’t pester me with any questions on this topic because I will likely lie.’

We complicate matters by asking questions that could be more direct and effective. Quality questions lead to a life of excellence. The key to success lies in posing better questions that yield superior answers.

In some situations, when you commit a mistake, you are questioned and still grilled when you don’t commit an error. Sure enough – ‘Mistakes might not give you the answers. But they give you questions for a more incredible answer.’

Sainthood means committing a mistake and questioning yourself to get the correct answer for the cause. These answers are authentic and trustworthy because they provide a truthful lesson. Find comfort in questioning yourself and answering yourself correctly. Telling a lie to a person doesn’t matter, but deceiving yourself is a blunder.

A wife questions her husband with tremendous dread and apprehension — “Do you have an extramarital affair?”

Will the wife tolerate it if the husband says  ‘YES’?

If the answer is ‘NO,’ will she be gratified or question him again?

Both ways, there is a mental predicament – a nasty situation that gives her stress and emotional trauma.

“The first step to getting an answer is being daring and chivalrous and asking questions.” It is better to ask some questions and avoid some – there is no point in fishing for all the answers. You never know what the catch may be — a ferocious Pirahna or a docile Halibut.

No wonder ignorance is bliss because sometimes a question can transform the course of one’s entire life. How about we lead lives by answering each other’s questions—questions never answered? Time takes its course, and not all questions are to be answered; time will deal with the situation in the best possible way.

“Knowledge is having the right answer . . . Intelligence is asking the right question.”

In the journey of self-reflection, you question yourself instead of asking other people. This act is not just a powerful tool; it’s a key to empowerment, as your soul is the ultimate judge. Mistakes might not give you answers, but an awakened soul throws out questions expecting better answers. In this self-questioning process, we often find the most profound answers to life’s questions.

In silence or during meditation, we journey inside our souls. We realise that not all questions can be answered. This realisation empowers us to take control of our lives. Our soul gives us more answers than it questions.

“What you seek is seeking you”, RUMI.

Don’t make your life a question mark. Your intellect knows all the answers provided you envisage doing so. Hasty decisions and speculations nurture insecurity and disbelief like a vicious cycle. The more we question, the more our doubts curse us, and we get caught in a web of floating question marks. Before creating another hell, we feed our lives, a more heinous hell.

Be patient when seeking answers, thus bringing tranquillity and reassurance. ‘To the questions of your life, you are the answer, and to the problems of your life, you are the solution.’

A scientist doesn’t give the correct answers –he asks the right questions and thus churns out the truth.

“In the book of life’s questions, the answers are not in the back.” CHARLES SCHULTZ.

My favourite line . . . ‘Answer all the questions – Question all the answers.’

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