In Plato's Phaedrus, the god Theuth invented letters and noted their greatness. King Thamus sagely suggests to Theuth that the creation of writing may actually hinder man. Giving him a false sense of wisdom. “What you have discovered is an aid not to memory, but to reminiscence, and you give your disciples not truth, but only the semblance of truth; they will be hearers of many things and will have learned nothing; they will appear to be omniscient and will generally know nothing; they will be tiresome company, having the show of wisdom without the reality.”
What a piercing, insightful line: the show of wisdom without the reality. A cautionary tale regarding the dangers of perception, particularly the sense that language may lead to learning. Plato intuited that the world is such an illusory show of wisdom, despite its seeming reality.
Consider how certain we are that the world is responsible for our pain and, likewise, offers a path toward its reduction. How many wistful thoughts contemplate "If only such-and-such occurred, then I'd be content ... less miserable ... happy"?
What the world never teaches, in fact, actively conceals, is that it has nothing to offer. In Lesson 128 from A Course in Miracles we read, "The world I see holds nothing that I want. It offers nothing that serves to provide joy."
By falling into the world's trap of appearing to offer the knowledge of and path to happiness, we continue to engage in countless hours of fruitless search for the next remedy. Making us tireless company indeed!
Until we recognize the truth of Lesson 128. Which continues, "Believe this thought [that the world has nothing to offer], and you are saved from years of misery, from countless disappointments, and from hopes that turn to bitter ashes of despair."
The source of all suffering has nothing to do with what's going on in the world but rather a choice in the mind for separation. The will to me (the insight toward which Nietzsche was driving) is the birth of bondage. The distinct sense of self our travesty of wisdom. Our invention of letters.
Yet another choice exists. We need but return awareness to the mind where we can "choose once again". By making the choice against such a self serving fallacy, all pain instantly dissipates, revealing the eternal bliss of unconditional peace.
Join me in Thursday's class where we'll explore our certainty regarding the world's sovereignty, and practices we can undertake to meet with the reality of wisdom, not its farcical show. I look forward to seeing you then.