See within; discover yourself

Philippines Author C JoyBell C has written, “I have entered into the darkest regions of myself, bearing torches and lighting candles. I have left a burning lamp in each lonely cave of my person. I have planted roses in every swamp of my mind. I have ignited stars in all the nights of my heart. I have lit myself on fire to walk through my soul. I have glowed as my own moon when there was no moon within me. I have done all that was necessary. Now watch me become the light, watch me be the light, watch me illume as light inside of light, watch me emerge as light. You’ve never seen this version of me before.”

In the 20^th century, both World Wars threatened the existence of the individual both physically and psychologically. Therefore, the efforts to discover the human being began anew. In modern times, this work is credited to Sigmund Freud and Wilhelm Wundt. But centuries before them, attempts to discover man have been made in different periods. Greek Philosopher Thales of Miletus, who is considered one of the seven wise men before Socrates, said the most difficult thing in the world is to know oneself. Pythagoras was the first person to discuss goodness. After attaining nirvana, Gautam Buddha thought this insight should reach other human beings as well. So he made followers because he had seen the path that led to the annihilation of all suffering and salvation and nirvana. He went to Sarnath in Uttar Pardesh, India and gave his first sermon in deer park: “O monks two extremes should be avoided in the world — one is running after desires and getting lost in sensual pleasures and the other is arduous austerities and self-tortures.” He proposed a middle way which is to avoid these two extremes, to lead to clear thinking and insight.

The Buddha founded his intellectual edifice on the reality of human suffering. Confucius’ social philosophy revolves primarily around the concept of fraternity or love for others. According to Greek philosopher Heraclitus, a vast majority of human beings are devoid of understanding; most people travel through life in the world of dreams and they do not perceive the circumstances around them. He says all things are mortal and nothing is permanent. Socrates believed that all evil is the result of ignorance and incognizance and no one becomes evil by his own will; therefore, goodness is knowledge and a person who has knowledge of the truth will adopt the right attitude. According to Epicurus, the purpose of knowledge is to free man from ignorance and superstitions, fear of gods and death, without which happiness cannot be attained. Plotinus thinks, “We are beautiful in introspection and ugly in ignorance.” Thomas Hobbes says, “We should analyze ourselves, look within and examine our thoughts and feelings, which are the basis of all human action.” According to Rene Descartes, if you are a true seeker of truth, you must at least once in your life doubt everything as much as possible.

Travel into philosophy and psychology as much as you want, but in the end you will find yourself incomplete in the answer to knowing the human being. Who am I? This is the most difficult question in the world. All intellectuals, philosophers and psychologists of all times have been engaged in exploring this one question. But there is no one comprehensive answer that is acceptable to everyone. But everyone seems to agree on one thing that the purpose of life should be a purposeful life. But we live with ourselves all our lives; we do not know who we are, what we are for, and we are for whom. There is thus the need to discover oneself, by travelling miles within, and keep searching until one finds oneself.

Friedrich Nietzsche has said; “But the worst enemy you can meet will always be yourself; you lie in wait for yourself in caverns and forests. Lonely one, you are going the way to yourself! And your way goes past yourself, and past your seven devils! You will be a heretic to yourself and witch and soothsayer and fool and doubter and unholy one and villain. You must be ready to burn yourself in your own flame. How could you rise anew if you have not first become ashes?”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20^th, 2023.

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