IDEAS OF SOCRATES

 

IDEAS OF SOCRATES

 

Socrates, a great Greek philosopher of the fifth century BC, argued that people are mostly ignorant of what they want. Unless people acquire a life of good virtues---- wisdom (compassion, love, Dharma), Justice (fairness for all), Fortitude/Patience (courage to face pleasure and pain with restraint), and Temperance (moderation or control over personal greed), they are bound to regret.

 For example—all of us believe in seeking happiness as the prime purpose of life. The material wealth, powerful position, right family, and social life are of paramount importance. Consequently, there is more pain than pleasure. The so-called happiness is riddled with fear and worries or concerns about losing what we have and, therefore, illusory. The developed societies in the USA and Europe are also lack "real happiness". The low happiness index in these countries reflects frustration and depression. But the collective wisdom of most of the human society is unable to grasp this fact.

Materialism means everything to the 99% common men. Most of us remain blind followers of the majority and the fickleness of mind. Balance 1% is a mute spectator. This world is destined to be imperfect and full of contradictions. The best way, according to Socrates, is to reform and understand the Self---"Know Thyself"—than to expect others to change for the better.

An oracle in Greece declared Socrates, the wisest man. Socrates responded that "I know nothing". He talked to the wise men in the town and found that what they claimed "to know" was not the real knowledge of Self but the mundane materialism matters, and therefore they knew not. (Meaning they had no concept of the soul). At least Socrates was honest in his admission that "I know nothing," and Oracle had rightly declared him the wisest person of honesty and intellectual integrity.

There could be another definite answer to his admission of "I know nothing". And that is---- only "HE" knows because "I" is the ego-self –separate from the Lord. Until our Vivek (sense of discrimination) is blessed by a perfect Guru, who has realized himself and the Lord, and we pursue the path outlined by Him, we cannot traverse our journey on the mystical road.

Socrates was put to death by the Greek rulers of those times by making him drink a potion of poison. His disciple, Plato, asked him at the death bed—whether he regrets dying in such a compulsive circumstance. He was given the option of forgiveness by expressing regret to the Greek authorities.

Socrates replied that this body is the veil in the realization of the "Know Thy Self". That veil will vanish with death. His idea of "Know thyself" will perpetuate till eternity in the world,  when this physical frame disappears.  Socrates, he declared, is not merely a body but the idea of the Truth.