Know thyself?

Question

The Ancient Greek aphorism; gnothi seauton: "Know yourself" was inscribed in the pronaos of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. What is involved in obtaining self-awareness, and how does one profit from knowing oneself?

Answer 1

'Gnothi seauton' is a Gnostic motto. When one knows one's self, one knows one's abilities and, more importantly, one's limitations. Once those are known, it is then possible to go beyond them.

Answer 2

Know thyself is an old adage from the Ancient Greek wherein one should value their life first before others. It is really hard to know somebody if your own self is questionable as to one's personality. If you know thyself will learn the true meaning of life . That's where you get self-awareness. Self-awareness when obtained by a person have the desire to live a life of fulfillment and happiness. You build in one self confidence which is very important from a person. Many things follow if you gain this self-awareness and self-confidence. Having this in life will definitely profit you with advantage.

Answer 3

Truly knowing oneself is not an easy matter. It may take many years of hard work at self-knowledge and sincerety of purpose. But whatever efforts one puts it, they are worthy.Only those who drive deep into themselves can come out with the truth.Simply by believing and constantly thinking that we are the spirit or the soul and not the mind or body will make the way easy for us.
The main advantage of knowing oneself is that you know all and everything's selves.You will not be perturbed by anything in life and more over life in the world would be transformed in to a life of the soul.
Thanks.

Answer 4

Because our multi-dimensional reality is responsive to consciousness, we are the primary cause of our experience in the physical world. Gaining self-awareness allows you to observe the internal causes of the external effects, and master your ego by detaching from its learned belief system that limits you and your experience. The profit? Remembering/re-cognizing your authentic self is the goal and unity with reality - fulfilling your purpose and 'eternal aliveness' the result.

Answer 5

Yes, know thyself.

"The unexamined life is not worth living"
-Socrates

Greek philosophy introduced us to the questions we ask ourselves everyday, but do not talk about.
"Rationality" is what separates us from the other animal species. We are a "frontier" being, we go up and we go down. We go up because of this rationality we possess, we are able to contemplate our creator- spirituality.
We go down because we are confined to the animal body, "that is why the body quickly disintegrates and returns to prime matter after the immortal soul departs".
-St. Thomas Aquinas

Knowing yourself, doesn't necessarily only entail knowing your traits or likes/dislikes/beliefs, etc. It means(in accord with Greek philosophy) knowing your place in the cosmos. Recognition of the unity of the universe and recognizing and understanding of your personal place in it. It also means recognition of humanity as existing extra-mentally and universally, and man as a rational animal. It is complete participation with this rationality that differentiates us from all other beings and allows us to engage in spirtuality- and acting in accordance to it: Virtuously- fairly, justly, couragously, piously, moderately...etc.
For Greek philosophers, it is nurturing of our soul(the rational intellect within us that separates us from the animal body) that completes us and is the greatest good for the individual and the universality of humanity.

Answer 6

Self realization is the purpose of human life. We are not this material body, IE Race, color, nationality, religion, Job, mind, intellect, senses, etc. We are eternal spirit souls, part and parcel of the Supreme Soul, Also known as Krishna Allah, Jehovah, Vishnu, etc. We never die, only this mortal body dies. This material world is called Maya (illusion) and is temporary and full of misery, Only one fourth of the souls come here and the rest are enjoying blissful, eternal, loving relationships with our Maker, named above. Bhakti Yoga is the best process for self realization. It culminates in the chanting of the Maha mantra (the great mantra for deliverance from all suffering and illusion) This process reveals one constitutional position beyond this illusion. I love it. For info go to harekrishnatemple.com Read Bhagavad Gita as it is By Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada- tells how. asitis.com you can read it on line.

Answer 7

Complete honesty w/one's self w/out pretense or subtrifuge is the best way.Sure,iy hurts to know tht there are things about us that are unlovely,but self-awareness makes us more vigilant in curbing thos aspects.

Answer 8

we can't...LOL.
not totally,that's for sure.
but everyone tries to understand themselves.
physical or mentally.

We'd understand the common stuff such as we're hungry,we're thirsty, we need to go the bathroom are the physical ones.
We'd know it when we're happy, sad, angry,etc.

the "know yourself" you mentioned means to understand oneself is that so we know what should we do and what we can do for the situations in life...

there's no end to the profits,ay?

Answer 9

You know what you need in order to find love and know how to support yourself. You are very wise if you know yourself so well cause not even some of the wisest of people know truely who they are and who they will be.

Answer 10

Matt W took the words right out of my mouth, I mean fingers.