Blinded by the Light?
May 17, 2008Recently I’ve written several posts about Finding a Teacher. I’ve also commented on Descartes famous quote as an example of ego. “I think, therefore I am” Today, I ran into an interesting article, unexpectedly from Oprah magazine.
“Most people know Descartes’s famous statement “Cogito, ergo sum” (”I think, therefore I am”). But he actually wrote “Dubito…cogito, ergo sum.” “I doubt…I think, therefore I am.”"
That adds a twist to what I understood Descartes was saying. Perhaps its more people capture the part of the quote their ego can relate to. Hmmm. The author Martha Beck goes on to recommend:
- Embrace uncertainty. There is no absolute truth.
- Test every idea
- Ask if it unites or divides
- Do-Be-Do-Be
(see my post Do Be Do)
Davidya
David,
Interesting thought. “I doubt..I think, therefore I am.” It’s better to start with a doubt in mind that to end an idea in the cloud of doubts. As always, you’ve wisdom in every word.
Shilpan