I recently watched “The Matrix,” one of the few DVDs I own. I like the messages it tries to impart, about choices, and about where we fit in our lives. One of the messages is about questioning who we believe we are.
In a scene where Morpheus takes Neo to see The Oracle, Neo will soon learn whether or not he is ‘The One’. Neo is guided in so that The Oracle can look him over and render a verdict.
The Oracle asks Neo, “Do you think you’re ‘The One’?
Neo says, “Honestly, I don’t know.”
The Oracle, pointing to a sign over head, reads the inscription: “You know what that means? It means ‘Know Thyself’. I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Being ‘The One’ is just like being in love. No one can tell you, you just know it, through and through, balls to bones.”
“Well, I better have a look at you. Open your mouth and say ‘Ahhhhhh’.”
As Neo says ‘Ahhhhh’, The Oracle looks in his eyes as she moves his head from side to side, and then examines his hands. She then says, “Okay, now I’m supposed to say ‘Hmmmmm, that’s interesting, but….’ Then you say…..”
Neo: “But what?”
Oracle: “But you already know what I’m going to tell you.”
Neo: “I’m not ‘The One’.”
Oracle: “Sorry, kid. You got the gift, but it looks like you’re waiting for something.”
Neo: “What?”
Oracle: “Your next life, maybe. Who knows?”
Are we waiting for our next life? Are we waiting for someone to tell us that we are ‘The One’? Are we waiting for a Morpheus or an Oracle to tell us who we are? In fact, The Oracle never tells Neo that he is not The One; Neo tells himself that he is not.
Are we waiting for someone to come along and tell us that they believe in us? Do we think that as long as someone else believes in us, then we’ll believe in ourselves? It’s like The Oracle says: It’s just like being in love. No one can tell you, you just know it, through and through. The only person who can believe in you is you. Until that happens, we will always be waiting; waiting for someone else to tell us that they believe in us. And no matter how many people tell us that they believe in us, it won’t matter, because the most important person, the only person who can decide whether or not we are ‘The One’ is ourselves.
Brilliant post, Phillip. I LOVE the Matrix Trilogy!
Indeed each of are "The One". Each one of us has our own unique gift to share with the world as "The One" that we are.
You quoted the Oracle, "It
How cool to compare knowing you are "The One" to knowing you are in love.
In both instances, you are in love with yourself.
Thanks. That scene is one of my favorite scenes in film. I appreciate this timely reminder. What am I waiting for? Yeah…
Really beautiful Phillip. May all beings come to the awareness that they are "the one." Love, Greg
Hi Phillip,
You know I watched "The Matrix" when it first came out years ago, and I so did not get it…lol. But I also never got ET, either. Maybe it is time to revisit
I think I have just learned to look inside of myself for answers. Honestly, I think looking outwardly via books was my own creative way of sort of cheating…lol. I'm good at finding the loopholes I suppose.
Do you have kids Phillip? I think it is important for kids to be told we believe in them, and maybe those of us who are misguided and waiting for others to tell us (until we finally figure out the one we are waiting for is ourselves) is because we didn't have that parent that did that for us. It gives one a head start in life especially with our own growth and evolution. Not that we didn't choose that relationship with our parents before we were born or anything…lol. I do think that is why so many people have difficulty with this, right or wrong, which is why parents have such a huge responsibility on raising their kids for emotional success.
Just a thought.
Krissy
Thank you so much for all your wonderful feedback. This is something that resonates with me, as I found that things always turned out best when I did not struggle to hear an answer.
Being 'The One', or not, is essentially the difference between thinking and knowing. It's the difference between 'thinking' something, and 'knowing' something, whatever it might be. I would rather my doctor 'know' how to perform an operation than him 'think' he can perform it. Knowingness is the innate connection to the source, ourselves. Thinking can lead us down many a dark and dangerous path.
When we have doubts about our actions or feelings, it can be a clue that we've moved away from our source, our true selves. Something is telling us that what we feel, what we believe, is not in synch with the universe's intentions. Having doubts about oneself may be considered a weakness, but it is a fine blessing! Doubt alerts us to the fact that something requires our attention. Without doubt, we might blindly blunder along, never considering how our thoughts, beliefs, and actions affect our world.
The thing is, when we know, we know. If we don't know, if there is doubt, getting back to our source will help us find the answers. Once we have tapped into our source, the answers will appear and then we will know that we are 'The One'.
Children definitely need guidance, but learn quite a bit through modeling, or simply mimicking the world around them. Some things children just do, and we wonder where they could have learned such a thing. It's just something that they do, because it is part of their true nature. They don't have to question it, because it's just something that they 'know'. Where we can help them is to let them see that the answers they seek also lie within themselves. When they are witness to a world where all needs are met by outside sources, they model that behavior and begin to lose touch with their source and start seeking from without. Naturally there are certain needs that can only be met by outside sources, but only up to a point. When the child realizes that the answer to his question lies within, it is very empowering, very freeing. Instead of learning to depend on others, he learns that all he needs he possesses himself. He is the source. He is 'The One'.