Know yourself

By Valdir Aguilera

Most likely you know the phrase that gives this article its title. It is also likely that you have seen or heard comments about what it is referring to, and you have your own opinion about it. Even so, perhaps there is something you have missed and it requires further analysis. That's what we're going to do.

First of all, it should be clear that it is not known who the author of the sentence was. Some mention Thales of Miletus, Pythagoras, Heraclitus and even Socrates among several others. It was written (in Greek) in the entrance courtyard of the Temple of Apollo, where the Oracle of Delphi was located. The author was probably none of those remarkable philosophers. It certainly was not Socrates. Why do we believe this? Let us consult Plato.

In Plato's Fedro, Socrates says: "I have not yet, as the Delphic inscription recommends, been able to know myself", it being clear that he saw the phrase "Know thyself" in Delphi. [1]

For the students of Christian Rationalism, knowing oneself means being aware that one is Force and Matter. In other words, we understand each one of us is a dual being composed of a spirit and a body. Not the physical body, but the fluidic one. The physical body belongs to the Earth and remains here after its death, while the fluidic body belongs to the spirit and follows it through eternity. The Christian rationalist knows that he is not his physical body.

Is that what it means 'know yourself'? Yes, but it's only part of the story. There's more to it. Let's see.

As important, or even more important, as knowing yourself as Force and Matter is to be conscious of being in an endless process, to be better, to learn more, to evolve. This learning requires, among other things, to constantly watch over our feelings.

What do feelings have to do with our subject? Everything to do with it, because they are important factors that directly influence our thoughts and guide our actions. Consequently, guide our life.

However, how many pay attention to their own feelings? Not many, and often they do not even notice them. Take, for example, a jealous person. What kind of thoughts is he subject to as a result of this feeling? No righteous thoughts, surely. And it turns out that this person may not realize that he is jealous, he does not know himself.  

Other equally negative feelings can go unnoticed. Many of them you can imagine yourself, like selfishness for example. As a result, the gradual process of evolution is undermined, and this has a price, it generates a debt to be paid.

It follows that in addition to knowing that you are a spirit with a fluidic body, knowing yourself requires being aware of your feelings and, you may add, your emotions. And we cannot forget our habits. Do we spend our lives criticizing others and looking for their flaws? 

In conclusion, to know ourselves, in its broadest sense, it is necessary to make a daily analysis of our behavior, feelings and habits. A good time for this healthy practice is a few minutes before bedtime.

So, do you know yourself?

References

[1] Fedro ou da Beleza, Guimarães Editora, Lisboa 2000, p. 16 (Book in Portuguese)