Re-imagining Plato’s “Cave”
Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" is a philosophical narrative that explores the nature of reality and human perception. In it, prisoners are chained in a cave, facing the wall, seeing only the shadows cast by objects behind them. These shadows are their reality. One prisoner is freed and experiences the outside world, full of light and true forms. Upon returning to the cave to enlighten the others, he's ridiculed. Many scholars have argued that this allegory delves into the process of enlightenment, the difficulties of challenging existing perceptions, and the complexities of the human condition.
Lúmethor vs Theljúmethor
What you “know” is influenced by your experiences…
Your “knowing” can only grow if given new experiences to build upon…
Experiences can be both external and internal…
It follows, then, that “Lúmethor” (Creation) would guide your decisions.
In the Zensunni Bardo (ZB) path, the cave symbolizes not just ignorance but a stage in one's journey toward "Lúmethor," or Creation. Here, the shadows on the wall are akin to mere "Theljúmethor," or Anti-Creation—concepts, things, or even relationships that exist only to negate or limit the full scope of what can be created or experienced. They are not to be ridiculed but understood as natural starting points.
“If you “know”, what you don’t (truly) know...is a lot.”
The journey from the cave to the outside world could be seen as achieving "Arêtephos," or Virtue, which in the ZB context is an act or value that enhances the experience of Creation. But, in ZB, the freed prisoner wouldn't merely venture out alone. The tenet of "Qhreestal BardScriban", where “Answer Precedes Question”, comes into play. In other words, the freeing of one prisoner (the answer) would inevitably lead to the curiosity or need for freedom in others (the question), like a chain reaction. Just as the prisoner seeks to share the truth, ZB emphasizes the act of sharing experiences and enlightenment. The term "BardScrios" applies here—a person who not just explores but also shares their journey and discoveries. The ZB interpretation adds a layer of communal responsibility and interconnectedness absent in Plato's original narrative.
Imagine you're working at a mundane job, the epitome of a shadow on the wall. Then, you come across a ZB blog-post or artwork that sparks your curiosity—your first step towards Lúmethor. You share this discovery with a colleague, practicing "BardScrios." Your colleague, in turn, questions their reality, fulfilling the "Qhreestal BardScriban" loop. Together, you decide to break from routine, perhaps starting a project that aligns more with your values—your combined act of “Arêtephos”. And just like that, you've moved from being prisoners in a cave to seekers in the open world.
You’ll recall, Gentle Reader, in my welcome post, I promised you interesting and exciting “adventures”. My vision—which gets clearer with each addition—for ZB is filled with shared insights, welcome and thoughtful excavation of past wisdom from a variety of sources, artwork (my main creative outlet) that inspires discussion, and open dialogue of all that we experience. I offer this community of BardScrios for you to experience as a new taste, sensation, or garment, an endeavour that will evolve as ZB does.
As always, be well,
