A core belief in Buddhism is the two truth doctrine. The two truths are conventional truth and the ultimate truth. The conventional truth is worldly, and the ultimate truth (known as "emptiness", which in Buddhism means simply that we cannot ourselves fathom what it means) can be found within meditation, and not within human opinion and philosophy. It is important to understand the difference between the two truths, as the worldly conventional truth comes from the self and the ultimate truth does not. That is the distinction between the two. The dharma is based on these two truths. (Dharma was covered in a previous post.)
I suppose the difference is out human nature creates the conventional truth via perspective, whereas the ultimate truth is reality. At an ultimate level there is no self in truth. That would indicate the conventional truth acts upon thoughts and the illusions that come from it. Incorrect information can warp conventional truth, and there is many conventional truths coming from several people and different viewpoints. Furthermore, one can say conventional truth can be shaped by emotions and ultimate truth by facts. Ultimate truth is wisdom.
The belief of ultimate truth is that there is an emptiness in existence and its definable nature. Conventional truth can be deceptive, and and ultimate truth transcends or rises above deception. Its important to realize the the two truths have a relationship. Conventional reality forms imagery, where ultimate truth is conceptional of reality. Conventional truths are the stairs to the ultimate truth, which as discussed earlier, empty. Perhaps we could not see the ultimate truth without knowing what we perceive as a desert mirage, a perceived oasis.
A good analogy to understand the relationship between the two truths is consumption of food. We generate an appeal or taste of food with our senses, our personal preference. We develop a liking for certain types of food, based off the same tastes and appeal. Often people enjoy foods sugary and salty. This is appealing to us. We form a type of conventional truth based off our senses. However, in reality those foods we like can be bad for our health. A food may be good for us, and we based that off of the nutrients involved within the food. The nutritional value of the food is the ultimate truth. We form conventional truth based off of our senses, and ultimate truth is emptiness.
I suppose the purpose of the two truth doctrine is to gain a concept of reality. Our formation of perception in our mind is not reality, where as ultimate truth provides us a stagnant, solidified vision of reality. It's not that our mind's conventional truth is wrong, but more biased than anything else. Once we see reality our conventional truth is more finite, when quite simply in emptiness is broad. It's worth mentioning that conventional truth is controllable, pleasing to the person.
The two truth doctrine: conventional and ultimate. It is safe to say in conclusion that one cannot have only one concept and that the emptiness (once again, ultimate) will be bestowed upon you without the other. Emptiness is a fleeting subject at first to the seeker, but like all wisdom, is attainable. One.must not they to become wise without feelings first.
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