To learn what I do not yet know
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Few figures have experienced the immense wealth and absolute power as Marcus Aurelius, the 16th emperor of the Roman Empire. Revered by the masses, his reign was marked by adoration and approval. Yet hidden within the grandeur of his rule lies a penetrating insight into personal development and the quest for knowledge.
Had you lived in the 0170’s, you very well may have witnessed an aging Marcus, hurriedly walking past you with a determined resolve, lugging a hefty stack of books. His step-brother Lucius certainly noticed, questioning Marcus as to what sort of clerical errand could possibly be required of the Roman king.
To which the emperor replied, “I'm on my way to a philosophy lecture - to learn what I do not yet know.”
These words capture the essence of his character and offer a timeless lesson for all of us. To learn what I do not yet know. Marcus Aurelius exemplified profound humility, his will to understand serving as an inspiring blueprint for personal and spiritual growth.
Within the context of A Course in Miracles, this pursuit of learning what we do not yet know takes on an even deeper meaning. The Course emphasizes that all our experiences are dictated by the ego's lessons, which reinforce the belief that circumstances determine our well-being.
The idea that we are individual selves affected by the goings on of the world around us attests to how poorly we’ve learned. To which the course strongly cautions us:
Remember nothing that you taught yourself, for you were badly taught. Resign now as your own teacher. (T-28.I.7; T-12.V.8)
The path to true knowledge and the state of infinite peace begins with a little willingness to consider that everything we think we know is wrong. This concept vastly challenges our preconceived notions of reality. Yet the course encourages us:
Do not bring with you one thought the past has taught, nor one belief you ever learned before from anything. (W-pI.189.7)
Only then are we able to hear the still, small voice for Oneness that speaks of Love. Only then are we able to attain what the course calls “perfect perception” - the realm of unconditional peace and indescribable joy.
Join me in Thursdays’s class where we’ll explore what it means to truly learn what we do not know, and the subsequent release from all sorrow. I look forward to seeing you then.