077-Self-knowledge - Buddhism in daily life

Self-knowledge


My father used to say, "Self-knowledge is the first step to
improvement!"


But what is self-knowledge, how important is it for me?


To know oneself means to reflect about oneself, without
reflection there is no knowledge.


If you want to have a better life, you must first see your
present life as it is, without embellishing it, without including
your wishes and dreams, but simply acknowledging reality (which,
by the way, does not exist according to Buddha).


If you think about yourself and your life, you will also
recognize which advantages you have, how you stand out from the
general public, what makes you special.


And self-knowledge is also enormously important when it comes to
unpleasant things, such as: I drink too much, why? Smoking
doesn't agree with me! I am overweight! My arrogant manner
offends people! It is not easy to admit one's faults, we like to
think that everything is "alright", that we have no problems,
because we distort everything from our perspective so that the
result "suits" us. This is also called "misjudgement". This
happens to me again and again, I don't want to admit the small
belly until the pants are stretched, then I have to notice it.
Until then I put myself "advantageously" in front of the mirror,
my assessment is clouded by my will, I e.g. feel ashamed that I
can't discipline myself enough when eating.


Who has a "bad" image of himself, he estimates himself "worse",
who has a "high" opinion of himself, he tends to overestimate,
but the art is to be "honest" to oneself. Especially Buddhists
(and first of all the "feel-good Buddhists") should (according to
the teacher of all teachers) not look at things according to
appearances, also not idealized, or through the glasses of one's
own wishes, but as they are, which, however, requires a good
portion of "courage". To classify things correctly and
self-knowledge are interdependent in many areas, to gain
knowledge about oneself is a process that must first emerge.


In general, it can be said that self-knowledge is the best thing
that can happen to a seeker, because to make friends with the
mistakes in the long run, that can not be the solution.
Misconceptions happen to everyone, nobody is "perfect", even the
perfect one needed his time to find the "enlightenment".


Whoever does not reach self-knowledge will always be determined
by strangers, will lead a life determined by strangers, will
always regret the decisions afterwards, will remain a slave of
his emotions and feelings.


Will you find self-knowledge?


The way is the goal!





If the ignorant person seeks to know himself outside or outside
the mind, how should he be able to find himself, since he seeks
others than himself? He who seeks self-knowledge in this way is
like a madman who flaunts himself in the midst of a crowd and
forgets who he is, then seeks himself everywhere


- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480





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