All of us think we know ourselves more than anybody else, because each of us is unique and there’s no one exactly like us. This is quite true.
But think about this: Suppose somebody asks, “Who are you?”
How do you answer him? Most likely, any of the following:
You give your full name: “I am Pedro Penduko.”
The son or daughter of so-and-so: “I am the son of Don Quijote.”
The school you graduated from: “I am a graduate of the school of hard knocks.”
Your profession or job: “I am congressman Kulafu.”
You believe you have answered the question. But if you think deeply, you realize that you are not your name, your parents, the school you graduated from or your profession.
These are all external to you. Remove all these labels, and you are left with the scary realization that you do not really know who you are.
I found out that there are at least four sources—three ancient, one modern—that say essentially the same thing.
One is from the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tsu (400 B.C. or earlier), another from the ancient Greek sages (300-350 B.C.). Third is the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas (around 300 A.D.), and the latest is from the 20th-century analytical psychologist Carl Jung.
In the Chinese ancient text Tao Te Ching (400 B.C.) which is attributed to Lao Tsu, we find these quotes:
“Knowing others is intelligence;
“Knowing yourself is true wisdom.
“Mastering others is strength,
“Mastering yourself is true power.
“If you understand others, you are smart.
“If you understand yourself, you are illuminated.”
The Tao Te Ching is a religious, philosophical text embodying Taoist philosophy and has influenced, among others, Confucianism in China and elsewhere.
The main task of man on earth, according to the Tao Te Ching, is to know himself, as he really is, not those external to him. Based on this philosophy, we do not really know ourselves. That’s why there’s a lot of confusion in the world.
First things first, and the rest will follow. “Know thyself” first and you will know God,” according to Lao Tsu.
Oracle at Delphi
It is said that before entering the famous Oracle at Delphi in ancient Greece, there are a number of aphorisms written at the entrance of the Temple. Two of the most famous aphorisms are “Know Thyself” and “Nothing to Excess.”
The Oracle at Delphi was the most famous oracle or portal in the ancient world. It was consulted by many people, including heads of states of various countries. They trooped to it for a glimpse of future events or to seek advice.
The Oracle was dedicated to the ancient Greek god of wisdom, Apollo, and it was believed that Apollo himself answered questions through the high priests of the temple while they were in a trance-like state.
The 147 aphorisms or precepts have been attributed to the Seven Sages (or wise men) of ancient Greece, which included Thales of Miletus, Pythagoras, Socrates, Heraclitus, Solon, etc. The list of sages, however, varied from one generation to another.
The Oracle at Delphi had declared the philosopher Socrates, as the wisest of men. When Socrates heard this, he said: “The Oracle said this because I am the only one who knows that I know nothing.”
Socrates went about the streets of Athens wearing the same cloak and questioning everybody about everything. He was referred to as the “Gadfly of Athens.” His most famous disciple was Plato.
One of the most famous sayings of Socrates was, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
He was falsely accused of “teaching false gods and corrupting the youth.” He was arrested, jailed and executed by making him drink the poison “hemlock.” He refused to escape despite opportunities for doing so.
‘The Undiscovered Self’
In the lost Gnostic gospel of Thomas found in Nag Hammadi cave in Upper Egypt in 1945, Jesus said: “When you come to know yourselves, then you will realize that it is you who are the sons of the living father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty.”
Jung said in “The Undiscovered Self:” “Most people confuse ‘self-knowledge’ with knowledge of their conscious ego personalities. Anyone who has any ego consciousness at all takes it for granted that he knows himself. But the ego knows only its own contents, not the unconscious and its contents. People measure their self-knowledge by what the average person in their social environment knows of himself, but not by the real psychic facts which are for the most part hidden from them.”
It is, indeed, scary to realize that we don’t really know who we are!
The next provincial Soulmates Karma and Reincarnation seminar is on Aug. 18, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Palmas Verdes Green Residential Community, Dagupan, Pangasinan. Call Janz or Hyden at 0922-8845829 or 0998-9886292; e-mail jaimetlicauco@yahoo.com; visit www.innermindlearning.com