Lesson 2
THE GOAL OF PHILO-SOPHIA
Philo-sophia, as I see it, has one central aim: to get in touch with reality more deeply, more fully, more intensely. The philosopher wants to connect to the real—not just in abstract thought, but in his way of life—and to help others do so.
This is the Platonic yearning. It assumes that normally we are not completely in touch with reality, because we are enclosed within our narrow ‘perimeter’—within the limited realm of our expectations and assumptions, emotional patterns, one-sided attitudes, self-centered ideas and fantasies.
But this yearning also assumes that we are capable of going beyond our perimeter. To be sure, some aspects of reality may be forever beyond human reach. Nevertheless, even the reality that is accessible to us is much greater and richer than we usually assume.
There are many methods that can help us towards this goal: exercises that raise our awareness of our perimeter, philosophical analyses to understand the perimeter’s structure and hidden assumptions, contemplative techniques that go beyond our usual patterns of understanding. But methods are not enough. What is needed is a personal journey, which means commitment, time and effort. In this journey we cultivate a new form of awareness, a new state of mind: a state of mind of openness to beyond ourselves, to the greater horizons of reality, and to its many aspects or ‘voices.’
Of course, we cannot abolish our perimeter. As human beings we have definite psychological and cultural structures. But while we live our normal life, we can also maintain an openness to beyond these structures. This state of mind is Sophia—wisdom. It is the state of mind that is open to the many fountains of understanding, of plenitude, of life.
Example
Going beyond our perimeter can take place on many levels, degrees, and intensities. The following example is one of many kinds.
Sandra always avoids conflicts and arguments. She feels comfortable only in ‘pleasant’ relationships, even when they are dull and empty. This is why she never complains to her neighbors about loud noise, and why she ‘forgets’ that her sister owes her money. She often organizes parties and game-nights and trips for her friends, and makes sure that all the participants are busy and happy.
One night, Sandra invites several friends to a Bingo evening. While everybody is still chatting, two friends, Jerry and Bill, sit in the corner and argue about global warming. The two men raise their voices in excitement, and Sandra is worried about this ‘unpleasant friction.’ She decides to start the game. She tries to break up their discussion and pull them to the table.
Linda, a philosophical practitioner, watches her. “You certainly have a very specific conception of human relationships,” Linda whispers to her. “For you, good relationships means harmony. Disagreement and differences disrupt the harmony. And harmony is a most important thing. In fact, relationships are like a game—they don’t have to be deep or significant, as long as they are fun, protected, regulated by rules, pleasant.”
Sandra is struck by these words. She looks at Bill and Jerry as they argue, interrupting each other and raising their voices. And suddenly she notes that Bill places his hand on Jerry’s arm, saying: “No, my friend, you don’t understand…”
The gesture takes only a few seconds, but it touches Sandra deeply. For a moment she can see the bond that exists between the two arguing men. She can see very clearly how their friendship is different from her idea of relationships, and how it ‘speaks’ a different language. And for a moment she can understand this other language too, she can feel it, she can share it.
At that moment something strange happens. On the one hand, she is still tense and worried. She still feels the urge to disrupt their argument and pull them to the game. But at the same time, something inside her accepts Bill and Jerry’s argument. She feels that she is Sandra, but at the same time she is also more than Sandra.
In philosophical practice
In the early stages of philosophical counseling, the counselee usually starts noticing how much of her life centers on a narrow understanding (or ‘theory’) of herself and her world. Often, the mere fact that the person notices her prison-walls is enough to open a door to the outside. The counselee then starts ‘connecting’ to other aspects of life beyond her ‘theory.’ She starts connecting to new facets of human reality. This openness allows her to advance to later stages of counseling.
In philosophical workshops it is harder to deal with the life-story of each individual participant. For this reason, the workshop can focus on some general aspect of life—meaning, love, freedom, sex, etc. Through various exercises and discussions participants examine aspects of their perimeter, and experience moments of going beyond it and connecting to a new aspect of life. The group activity allows the process to be more intensive and experiential. It also allows the participants to compare themselves with others, and to give and receive feedback.
Exercise
Catch yourself in a familiar situation, for example an interaction with somebody you know: a polite conversation with the neighbor, a conversation with the boss, and so on.
While you are conversing, open inside yourself a silent awareness—an awareness of yourself. Don’t examine yourself ‘from the outside’ and don’t analyze yourself—just be with the situation: with your bodily sensations, with your gestures, with your words, your thoughts, your emotions. Your awareness is like a space that contains the entire situation.
And now broaden your awareness even further: Bring into your awareness other parts of yourself that are not active, for example: a hidden irritation, a cynical thought that you repress, a pleasant memory from yesterday, an urge to do something you don’t dare to do, an idea that has been on your mind for the past week, and so on. Let all of these (in addition to your current situation) be present together in your awareness.
Normally, our awareness is focused on one single event, and it neglects everything else. But now your awareness contains a broader scope of events. If done well, this exercise offers you a glimpse beyond your usual perimeter.
