“Though it seems that I know that I know . . .”

“Though it seems that I know that I know . . .” 4 comments

Tom Turner

Tom Markey

Images by kenne
(This posting id dedicated to my brother, Tom Turner and my close friend, Tom Markey.)

Munford & Sons is a group I love to listen to, and one of my favorite songs is “Timshel,” which means “thou mayest” in Hebrew and is an important symbol in the novel East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

“But the Hebrew word, timshel—’Thou mayest’— gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a man. For if ‘Thou mayest’—it is also true that ‘Thou mayest not.”

Timshel is everywhere in life, what existence is all about — “thou mayest” gives meaning to our thoughts and actions, the source of becoming emotionally attached to the world. Life begins to lose its significance as meaning becomes limited and bound.

“Though it seems that I know that I know, what I would like to see is the ‘I’ that knows ‘me’ when I know that I know that I know.”

— The Book, by Alan Watts

kenne

“Timshel”

Cold is the water
It freezes your already cold mind
Already cold, cold mind
And death is at your doorstep
And it will steal your innocence
But it will not steal your substance
But you are not alone in this
And you are not alone in this
As brothers, we will stand, and we’ll hold your hand
Hold your hand
And you are the mother
The mother of your baby child
The one to whom you gave life
And you have your choices
And these are what make man great
His ladder to the stars
But you are not alone in this
And you are not alone in this
As brothers, we will stand, and we’ll hold your hand
Hold your hand
And I will tell the night
Whisper, “Lose your sight”
But I can’t move the mountains for you