To paraphrase Marcus Aurelius, if one does not understand the Cosmos, one cannot know where they are. Additionally, one cannot understand the Cosmos unless one knows their purpose in life or who they are… and, if one knows NONE of these things, then one cannot possibly know WHY they are here. (Meditations, 8.52)
Above the entrance to the courtyard of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, a maxim is inscribed. It's translation:.
Above the entrance to the courtyard of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, a maxim is inscribed. It's translation:.
Know Thyself
A memento mori mosaic from excavations in the convent of San Gregorio in Rome, featuring the Greek motto.
The artist is unknown - Lessing Photo Archive
The artist is unknown - Lessing Photo Archive
Around 600 years before Marcus Aurelius, it was Socrates who said, “The unexamined life is not worth living”, and it was the ancient Greeks who called self-examination & self-knowledge a “looking glass for the Soul".
Ultimately, the questions that will provide the clearest, most honest vision in that "looking glass" are:
WHERE are we, not simply in the "World”, but in the Cosmos?
WHO are we becoming in each moment, and who are we NOW?
WHAT can we do to fully engage with the myriad opportunities before us?
... and finally, WHY does all of this matter?
... because in any moment, life can be over, and we'll only be carrying into the After-world the “Virtue-currency” we've got on us at the time (more on Memento Mori later in the year, I'm sure).
Sit with those questions for a moment. I did. A good, long moment.
Sit with those questions often. I have, and I will continue to do so.
Finally, the ability (or inability) to honestly answer these questions is directly proportional to the sense of agency and perspective one experiences in their world. Therefore, we must…
Look within.
Seek answers.
Gain perspective.
Defeat Ego.
Be ever-vigilant.
(See y'all tomorrow.)
Ultimately, the questions that will provide the clearest, most honest vision in that "looking glass" are:
WHERE are we, not simply in the "World”, but in the Cosmos?
WHO are we becoming in each moment, and who are we NOW?
WHAT can we do to fully engage with the myriad opportunities before us?
... and finally, WHY does all of this matter?
... because in any moment, life can be over, and we'll only be carrying into the After-world the “Virtue-currency” we've got on us at the time (more on Memento Mori later in the year, I'm sure).
Sit with those questions for a moment. I did. A good, long moment.
Sit with those questions often. I have, and I will continue to do so.
Finally, the ability (or inability) to honestly answer these questions is directly proportional to the sense of agency and perspective one experiences in their world. Therefore, we must…
Look within.
Seek answers.
Gain perspective.
Defeat Ego.
Be ever-vigilant.
(See y'all tomorrow.)
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