自知vs.他知
Self-Knowledge vs. Serving Others


每日一语：

God helps those that help themselves. --- Benjamin Franklin

上苍只会帮助那些自知自助的人。 --- Benjamin Franklin

Despotism and slavery is established on the notion of humans serving others and authority. Freedom is established on the notion of self-awareness and independence. --- Kai Chen

专制奴役是建筑在个人只为他人与强权服务上的。 自由则是建立在个人的自知与独立上的。 --- 陈凯

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Dear Visitors:

Serving others' and the state's interests is the only purpose and meaning in an individual's life. This is the definition of despotism and slavery.

Mao's infamous slogan "Serve the People" is the definition of the slave mentality in a despotic society. Look around the world, most despotic nations would put "People" and "Democratic" in their titles, such as "People's Republic of China", "Democratic People's Republic of Korea", or "Democratic Republic of Germany", etc... The slogans on the Tiananmen Gate are also full of these meaningless phrases such as "People of the World". They somehow thought these lofty titles will endow their state a legitimate meaning therefore their own legitimacy for their existence. But in fact only the opposite happened. Due exactly to their fear of their own meaninglessness and the subsequent oppression of the population to deny the truth about the nature of their being, none of the states and entities turned out to be meaningful and legitimate.

The premise in the despotic doctrine of any slave society is that an individual's meaning of life can only be fulfilled by serving others and the state, for the others and the state have the ultimate knowledge about an individual's purpose in life. He himself cannot possibly know anything about him own interests, desires, strengths and weaknesses, and his meaning of life. He needs others' and the collective's direction and constant guidance in order to lead a meaningful existence.

But as you have experienced in your own life, in truth others and the state, no matter how omnipotent and powerful they are, they cannot possibly know what you want in your own life, who you love in your own life, what interests and desires you have in your own life, and what purpose and meaning you will instill in your own life. In truth, only two entities will possibly know about your life's meaning:

God and Yourself.

Your true meaning in life can only manifested through God via your own self discovery. Why did Michael Jordan play basketball? Why did Newton and Einstein studied physics? Why did Tchaikovsky compose music? Only when an individual discovers his life's purpose by God, he can fulfill his life's meaning. Joy and happiness will necessarily result from that discovery. If "God can only help those who help themselves" as Ben Franklin put so succinctly, how can you help yourself without knowing what you want, who you are and the values you as a unique individual hold and treasure?? Self-knowledge and awareness thus is the prerequisite for true freedom and happiness.

To replace God with others, majority, collective, cultural tradition and state authority and depend on these entities of men for the meaning of your life will only lead you through a journey of misery, failure, pain and suffering, and the ultimate disappointment in your life -- an eternal void in your heart and soul.

So examine the source from which you draw your meaning in life, you will discover what I say here is indeed true. So spend your time and energy on self-discovery via God, you will achieve true freedom and happiness without guilt and affliction.

Best. Kai Chen 陈凯