As I watched my newborn granddaughter begin to awaken to her surroundings, I was reminded of a theory I once read: that at birth, we are born knowing the secrets of the universe, but as life unfolds, a curtain slowly descends, obscuring that profound knowledge from our reach.
This idea resonates with several philosophical and spiritual traditions. It suggests that at birth, humans are in a state of pure connection to the universe, untainted by societal constructs or the limitations of language and ego.
As we grow, this innate understanding is obscured by the process of living—education, cultural norms, and the pursuit of material goals.
In many ways, it's a version of the idea of "forgetting" something profound upon entering the world. Some interpretations include:
Plato's Theory of Recollection: Plato suggested that all knowledge is innate and learning is a process of rediscovering what the soul already knows from prior existences.
The Veil of Forgetfulness: Some spiritual beliefs, like those in certain Eastern philosophies or New Age concepts, propose that souls are "veiled" upon incarnating in the physical world, forgetting their divine nature and universal truths to fully experience life.
Poetic and Mystical Views: Poets like Wordsworth have touched on this idea. In Ode: Intimations of Immortality, he writes, "Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting," suggesting that as we grow, we lose touch with a pre-birth state of knowing.
It's a haunting and beautiful notion, often tied to the longing for something we can't quite name—like a memory just out of reach. Have you been pondering this in your writing or reflections?
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