Know Thy Self

Today I want to ask you how do you work with the knowing that we are born into the process of dying? Our science community speak to us of telomeres – a region of DNA at the end of a chromosome that protects the start of the genetic coding sequence against shortening during successive replications, so as we mature they look more like the frayed ends of shoe strings. The telomeres while we are young  are long and as we move through our lived experiences the get shorter and so does their ability to to replicate. Again we come to a place where there is much to be said about this, so I recommend all who seek to Know themselves to investigate this information as there are some clues as to how to maintain the lengths and elasticity of the telomeres.

Recently I had the awesome opportunity to spend a pair of moments with my Beloved Elder Grandmother Pa’Ris’Ha and she brought forward to my mine this Truth. We are all born into the dying process.  As the song says, “every thing must change…” Since my brief visit with the Elder, I have been found myself pondering, how I have come to the half way point of my life and much like Neo in the movie the ‘Matrix’ (One of my favorites) and  I am waking up from a dream of shadows I thought real. Knowing this information effects all of my choices, how I spend my time and what do I deem as valuable.

“Awakening is possible only for those who seek it and want it, for those who are ready to struggle with themselves and work on themselves and very persistently in order to attain it.” ~ G.I. Gurdjieff

There is so much more I know I can do with my second half of time.I know that there are those who, are pretty good at demanding from others more “quality time”, ‘more attention’ and a deeper sharing with each other. I can see that this is what my Observer Self, Spirit or Indwelling Soul has been silently waiting for me to know of myself. How true the words ring , “Know Thy Self.”

Until we know ourselves we will not see the world objectively.

The Book of Thomas

Jesus said, “Brother Thomas ⁵ while you have time in the world, listen to me, ⁶ and I will reveal to you the things you have pondered ⁷ in your mind.

“Now, since it has been said that you are my ⁸ twin and true companion, examine yourself, and learn ⁹ who you are, in what way you exist, and ¹⁰ how you will come to be. Since you will be called my brother, ¹¹ it is not fitting that you be ignorant ¹² of yourself. And I know that you have understood, ¹³ because you had already understood that I am the knowledge of the truth. ¹⁴ So while you accompany me, although you are uncomprehending, ¹⁵ you have (in fact) already come to know, and you will be called ‘the one who ¹⁶ knows himself’. For he who has not known ¹⁷ himself has known nothing, but he who has known himself ¹⁸ has at the same time already achieved knowledge about the depth of the all. ¹⁹ So then, you, my brother Thomas, have beheld what is obscure ²⁰ to men, that is, what they ignorantly stumble against.” ²¹

Pa’ Ris’Ha – Cherokee Elder

Whatever you have made of your life depends on how you value all your challenges and hard knocks.  Strife develops character and we would be quite pale if we lived differently.

Do you not see yourself in the children’s eyes and hear your own pain in their cries?  Do you not see your anger in their defiance?  If not, you are not being real.

We are all bewildered by life.  Champions are not born.  They appear from the rubble of destruction.  Let our lives be as champions and leave a legacy for the upcoming generation.