Papou

15 years ago, I came across a 104 -year- old Greek man, who called himself grandfather in Greek Papou. He lived under the Acropolis and reminded me of Socrates. He would not teach but ask questions. Papou was dedicated to the Greek ancient spirit, and Christ was the follow-up to that, his passion.

In his prayers, to which we were invited ,there was dancing, which reminded me of the early Christians, before any dogma arose. Also, it was all-inclusive with prayers from almost all the other religions and statements of the ancient philosophers.

We would also pray in the ocean, making a big circle. Then we would sit in the hottest sun of the day, without hats or sunscreen lotions, in silence, a phenomena I would not grasp. Later, we would eat on a long table near the sea, starting with prayers, celebrating the simple meal, and ending with old Greek songs and dancing.

So what is prayer? Since it is not directed to something that is outside oneself ,with the process of surrendering into this moment of prayer one can start feeling this high intelligence melting into it without grasping its infinite quality or content, abundance on all levels ,utter freedom this opening quality of love…. the whole day, whatever one is about to do, can be an act of prayer, a surrender to this moment.

​Ramana Maharishi talked about self-inquiry with the basic question “Who am I really “, a question also asked by the ancient Greeks, who had it written on the gateway to Apollos temple in Delphi: “Know thyself.”

So back to our Socrates „I know that I know nothing” [ἓν οἶδα ὅτι] οὐδὲν οἶδα“(in Platos Apology) A wise man said once“if I speak I lie and if I keep quiet I am a coward.“