Understand Yourself

Many centuries ago, the Greek philosopher Socrates used to walk through the streets and marketplaces of Athens, teaching his students.

He would say to them, "You must understand yourself. You must understand yourself. You must understand yourself."

Then one day a student said, "Sir, you are always saying we must understand ourselves. But do you understand your self?"

"No, I don't know myself," Socrates replied. "But I understand this 'don't know.' "

This is a very interesting teaching. Buddhist practice points at the same experience, because most human beings pass through their lives without the slightest idea of what they are.