This is from Psalm 46:10, and is commonly interpreted as to stop striving and put one's faith in God.
However, it can be looked at differently:
Be Still:
To come to stillness, quieten the mind from its endless chatter, be mindful. By stilling the mind, we can become more aware of our thought processes by stepping back to observe them. We also become more aware of what happens externally.
What is our experience of stillness? What is observing what?
To Know:
To gain knowledge or understanding. This can be acquiring factual information and learning through experience or intellectually. In this context, the knowledge is to be gained internally, or intuitively. To have 'insight'.
What is our personal experience of gaining knowledge, and how has this shaped us?
I Am:
'I Am' implies the recognition of one's own existence. We assume we exist! However, we don't leave it there, but always add (attach) something to this 'I', e.g. I am tall, I am a plumber, I am hungry, I am mother/daughter, resulting in 'me'. Without these attachments, we are then 'Existence' itself!
How can the attachments be dropped?:
By becoming Still, quietening the mind, becoming the observer of thoughts, emotions, body, etc, without identification, we then Know through direct experience that 'I Am', and nothing else. Giving:
'Be Still, and Know that I Am'
What is our experience of 'I'?
We tend to assume my 'I' is individual and separate from all the other 'I's. There are Philosophical schools of thought where these 'I's are not separate, but one and the same (eg Buddhism, Advaita Vedanta). There is only one 'I' or one Existence. If there is only one Existence, creation must be a product of it, and therefore Existence, and 'I' can be equated with God. Therefore, we have:
'Be Still, and Know that I Am God'. !!
However, In the Advaita theory of creation, there is 'undifferentiated' pure Existence, out of which arises the 'unmanifest' which contains all the blueprints for creation of the universe, which then become 'manifest'. Personification of the unmanifest is essentially the creator, therefore God is a product of Existence and not the other way round!
Discuss!
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We have great NEW VENUE, CAFE QUENCH in Hove, with our own space on the 1st floor.
Walking distance to Hove station. Free parking.
Please arrive in time to order your refreshments and find a table.
NOTE TIME: 2.30 - 4.30 PM
IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND, PLEASE CHANGE YOUR
RSVP.
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https://www.meetup.com/PHILOSOPHY-CAFE/
https://cafequench.wixsite.com/quench
http://www.practicalphilosophysussex.com/
Handout including quotes can be downloaded here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oQqztCaFE1vFodrnyR3FlZmhlzpwur2jY05WTGX53LU/edit?usp=sharing
