Expert: Stuart Resnick - 4/4/2007

Question
This is kind of odd, because i have no clue who you are and no clue of why you might understand this better than i, but I'm open for all ideas, so here you go. I think it was Socrates that said "Know thyself."Or at least i know it was the Greeks. Self-examination is a great thing and i think should be a mandatory class in our educational system, but who determines self examination,i mean, who's to say that there is ever only one opinion or solid fact of what something is, in this case the something is you or me. how do i ever determine what is truly correct in the end, I'm so bent on the complexities of the various "truths" that define what our lives are, have been, and what our history as a people has been, can one not say that most of history is a consensus opinion that can be thrown out if you choose because i can go back and see another "truth" through another persons eye's about that history,  or about "self"? If all this is not too confusing, can you please respond, I'm just a 24 year old college student trying to sustain my thoughts, but cannot because i want to absorb everything to make that decision, but when i take in all sides, its to hard to form one single fact, besides physical facts,because theres never only one side, or one opinion.thks!!!

Answer
Thanks for your question, Reese. Socrates did indeed say "Know thyself." But then one day someone asked him, "Do YOU know yourself?" And Socrates answered, "No, I don't know myself, but I understand this 'Don't Know'."

You're right, self-examination is wonderful, but the wonderful part is the question, NOT the answer. Always keep the question "What am I?" strongly and sincerely, and then one clear thing will appear: Don't Know. This Don't Know is like a clear mirror that just reflects each moment without holding any idea.

Any idea about "truth" or "self" etc is garbage. Throw away the ideas and return to the question. Then, moment-to-moment, this clear don't-know mind will reflect the situation right in front of you, and you can respond accordingly.