"When you know yourself, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father. But if you do not know yourself, then you live in poverty, and you are the poverty", says Jesus in the gospel of Thomas.

I came to a conviction that self-knowledge, or we might better say, self-awareness, is essential for harmonious self-expression of an individual. Most of human problems results from wrong ideas of people about themselves, which lead them to self-abuse and abuse of others.

As we come to the true knowledge of ourselves, we learn to act in agreement with our deepest nature. As the result, we are being enriched - both inwardly and outwardly. The same laws which worked against us, now work for our benefit, and we are uplifted to the new level of meaningful and productive life.

There are people who think that it is more important to be loving than to know ourselves, but I disagree with them. Without vital understanding of human nature, our best intentions won't accomplish much. Let us suppose, we want to give and to serve. But if our desire is the highest good of others, and not just pleasing of our ego, we will be looking to do for them that which is necessary. Coming to the knowledge of ourselves, we come to the knowledge of others, because we are parts of the same human family. It enables us to be more effective in our loving service.

The call to know ourselves implies that beyond the veil of our appearance, lie unknown and mysterious depths. All what we know about ourselves is just a tiny fragment of the great reality of our being.

Your identity is greater than your body, even greater than your thoughts and feelings. People make a mistake by staying attached to their thoughts and feelings, unwilling to let them go - even realizing that they are unhealthy. They identify themselves with the things of the past, assuming that their loss is equal to the loss of self-identity. What a limited concept!

Our appearance may change - and must change - and will change. Our thoughts and feelings will change, too, no matter how strongly we hold on to them. It is the nature of life to change. However, deep inside we will still be the same "I AM" - mostly unknown and unrecognized.

Yes, we are not what we seem to be. Behind our apparent limitations, lies divine potential of beauty, creativity, wholeness, and abundance. This is why Jesus advised not to judge by appearances.

This thought thrills me every time it comes to my mind. Let me share with you a little poem I wrote recently:

A caterpillar will become a butterfly,
An egg will become a bird.
"You will be transformed,
And you will fly!" -
these words of God I heard.

For it is freedom,
It is a pure joy,
Life more abundant, indeed!
"You never know what your limits are.
Can an apple tree be compared to a seed?"

However, our transformation from "an apple seed" to "an apple tree" will require steady work. Since we are conscious beings with the freedom of choice, it is up to us either to know ourselves and to cooperate with the laws of our development, or to stay in mental darkness and to resist those powers which are meant to bless us.