Knowing Yourself

Coming to know yourself is nothing other then understanding the role you are playing in the ‘theatre of Life’.

Understanding the true nature of our existence is something that becomes easier through the use of metaphors and analogies. This is because we often become lost in the more phenomenal aspects of the experience of our lives and, in the process of doing so, we cloud our perception with regards to the utter simplicity of that experience. Therefore, using metaphors and analogies, generally, serves as an aid to help us simplify things; bringing a certain clarity to our perception of that experience, which in turn helps us to distil a number of the key principles which actively exist at the root of it.

A very common analogy that we find being used throughout a number of different traditions across the globe, being especially prominent in the Vedic tradition, is looking at our experience of life in much the same way as a role we may play as an actor or actress in some theatrical production. It is by doing this that we can come to view things more objectively, as we can create some space between the events that are unfolding and the particular role  we are playing within those events. Usually, without this space having been created, we tend to become completely lost in the event itself, losing sight of our own role in it precisely because we have lost sight of the fact that we are playing a role; instead becoming attached to and identified with that role. The two of these, consciously playing a role and becoming unconsciously attached to a role, are something entirely different from a consciousness perspective. Playing a role is something that can only truly occur when we are fully conscious, whereas becoming attached to a role means that we must be acting in an unconscious manner.

In this relatively short article we take the opportunity to look at this analogy in greater depth and also couple any insights gained from looking at it with the ancient adage of ‘knowing yourself’. We refer to ‘knowing yourself’ here not in its literal sense, which would have us relating this phrase with the scientific investigation and study of our bodies, but in a more philosophical sense instead. It is this phrase which ultimately ended up becoming the bedrock upon which many ancient religions, philosophical doctrines and mystery schools were founded. Although the validity of this phrase remains just as relevant to our internal development today, its deeper meaning is often lost on us because the contextual frameworks from which we operate within are generally not able to connect with the essence contained within it.