Know Yourself

dorothy — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 22:56:52 +0000

So, trying to be consistently mindful of the my mind! Kind of bizarre, really, to be using the brain to think about what the brain is doing. Hmmm. It goes deeper than that, though, because I don’t believe there is a separation between the mind, body, and spirit. And what are emotions/feelings? At any rate, there all connected, so dealing with one is dealing with them all. I’m prone to a lack of discipline in the mindfulness area, tending to let my mind wander randomly. Because of that free reign, many hours are spent regretting or glamorizing the past, wishing for the future, and dealing with the present unconsciously. I’m thinking this could really be improved by regular meditation. By sitting quietly with myself and practicing discipline around what I am thinking, and feeling, I will learn to take that control out into the world. Hopefully, I will come to know myself much better, too.

As inscribed at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi “Gnothi Seauton”, or “Know Yourself.” Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his 1831 poem of the same name, says it’s all inside of you, baby:

This is the reason why thou dost recognize
Things now first revealed,
Because in thee resides
The Spirit that lives in all;
And thou canst learn the laws of nature
Because its author is latent in thy breast.

I’ve been aware of my connection to the cosmic energy/spirit for many years. Maybe I was born understanding it. But it is so easy to get distracted by the physical realities, and daily challenges, of life, and lose sight of that connection. And without taking time to be still and know yourself, balance and clarity are elusive, as is the connection to what is really Real.

e-volved living » discipline

Know Yourself