“There is no need to run outside for better seeing nor to peer from a window. Rather abide at the center of your being; for the more you leave it, the less you learn. Search your heart and see, if he is wise who take each turn: the way to do is to be.”
In our Spinoza-Gurdjieff School we learn this basic principle of self-study, that is, to know thyself: This is prior to any other endeavor that is for man to awaken. Normally, we go about life with an unconscious habit of seeking external approval. Constantly looking out the window, looking behind us to see what is going on and what are we missing. In our competitive nature we want to make sure no one is ahead of us or doing better. To find our own approval takes work and dedication so that we can learn and follow the process of self-examination. What are our weaknesses, what is our strength and how can we improve ourselves? Only in a work group environment is it possible make any real inner change and the first step is to examine our character, how we see, think and act. To ‘Be’ is living in the now and in the truth of this enlightened-conscious being which we can be and are. Therefore, we want to become that character that Lao Tzu understood the value to “Abide at the center of your being for the more you leave it the less you learn.”
We can only learn as we pay attention to our feelings, our emotions, our pain so that when we begin to learn how to apply the necessary effort to see within ourselves; which are, the effects from our thoughts and body reactions about the object, the event, or the circumstance in front of us. We are always bombarded by external influences that cause us to experience pleasure or pain. To apply the basic principle to ‘Know Thyself” is about residing in the center of your being, then we know in truth that we cannot learn by constantly looking outside or behind ourselves.
LaoTzu lived over 2600 years ago and yet his message is loud and clear. A book called “The Way of Life” translated by Witter Bynner is a collection of LaoTzu writings which are truly spiritual and can only be understood intuitively. There is such wisdom and understanding of human nature and the nature of God in his poems. As your understanding increases by the effort to dig deeper within your nature to improve your understanding then LaoTzu will begin to fill your heart and mind. I recommend the Witter Bynner translation which can be purchased on amazon.com
