Knowledge and Wisdom - A Missing Piece
There is a question that has come to mind in light of our endeavor here on Theosophy.Net. On one hand we pursue the idea that the world of esotericism involves mostly experience. That experience involves our personal "theosophies" or how we make those connections with divinity, universals or however you want to describe it.
However there is another aspect that seems to have fallen through the cracks, and having delved back into Sufi literature this has become apparent. Where is wisdom?
Here is an area that the esotericists seem to have left out of the book. Is that coincidence? It seems that one of the things that defines all esoteric paths is the idea that there is a higher wisdom at work. Various traditions have different names, whether it be Gupta Vidya, Wisdom/Sophia, etc.
Herein lies our missing piece. Really nothing of what we talk about counts for much without wisdom. This is what separates our work from a mere academic endeavor. Surely to explore the head without giving equal time to the heart is little more than asking for trouble, and seeing that there is such thing as spiritual "food" perhaps we're talking about a kind of spiritual malnutrition.
What do you think?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Emmanuel Ikan Astillero on
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You are saying that wisdom comes from the heart. In Theos, that's the "emotional body" or "feelings". It is hardly the seat for wisdom since emotions and feelings are the least permanent - they change almost every moment and at every motivation.I do not have to dwell on The seat of wisdom is Buddhi or Intuition, and esoteric studies cover that. It is acquired through meditation.
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ModeratorPermalink Reply by Deb on -
I agree! I should probably read the other comments before responding, but what the heck. Mars is approaching my ascendant so it's ready, fire, aim for me lately! LOL
To me, wisdom flowers when there is a merging of the head and the heart. Wisdom is more than just facts or understanding concepts and philosophies. When that mental activity engages the heart activity in a related way, then wisdom comes.
There is wisdom all around us, as Joe said, in every culture and whatever religious expression that culture used/uses. I am, as I write this, looking at two little books on my shelf that are small examples of this: Teachings of the Hindu Mystics and Wisdom of the Celtic Saints. We, as individuals, will resonate better with some than with others, for all sorts of reasons. So, it's a good thing wisdom is all around us in so many guises!
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Permalink Reply by Hari Menon on
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Dear Joe ,
A very good point , in the ordinary world people use the word wisdom for knowledge gained from experiences . Now the thing about wisdom is that - wisdom is understanding understanding as the Greeks used to put it or as Knowledge of the Knower as the Indians put it (there may be similar references in other theosophies) . What I am trying to put across is that just as Earth,Water,Fire,Air,and Space are subtler than each preceding element - Subtler to space is the Mind and the Intellect is subtler than the Mind , The Empirical Ego (or self) is subtler than the Intellect - It is agreed upon by everyone that the Intellect consists of Knowledge so obviously it follows that Knowledge is subtler than all the preceding principles and the Ego is still subtler and Includes all other prior elements grosser than itself. . The knowledge in the Intellect is only that of Objects and never that of non objects(by which I mean of "things not discerned'' so it (the Intellect) does not consist of "things existing, but not seen -for eg. A specific tree in America , or Australia of which I may not be aware in a particular way, also in the reverse , a tree cut down of which , the action I may not aware , but the existence of that particular tree was known to me ) - Our basic approach to the word knowledge is to be blamed for this - because if the Intellect in relation to all preceding principles is so Subtle as to be consisting of knowledge - it obviously is not complete knowledge in the sense of the word "knowledge" - It qualifies the word Knowledge by our USE of the intellect . If the right connotation of Intellect is understood - it being
a) Knowledge and subtler than all the preceding elements "pervades them ' for the rule is that a subtler element pervades and holds the grosser element within it ( no lines are to be drawn as we are talking of subtle nature and hence all are mixed so to say ). Technically so all Objects are held/Known within the intellect and we should be (by the definition of Intellect) able to discern ALL objects existing as well as KNOWLEDGE of their vanishing (like a tree existing a few years before but now cut - in some other place ) of them . Buildings, people anything for that matter can be known just by thinking on it . One can reasonably cogitate "I passed through a country some time back , after so many years how does it appear now " and the intellect will illumine such a knowledge . Impossible the scientists and sceptics may say (we need not concern ourselves with them ). The Nub of the situation is why cannot we do so ? This is because we IDENTIFY ourselves with the knowledge in the intellect (by such Identification , I limit the intellect to my perception of myself - In truth the Intellect is held within the empirical self and therefore (Empirical/apparent) the self is more subtler than knowledge but by my folly of superimposing the limited qualities of my perception of myself on the self - I limit my angle of vision on the intellect which is all pervading over the manifest universe wherever it may be - so there is a kind of limiting brought on by myself (and nobody else) by superimposing the limitations of inferior principles on the self , and so cannot see the wider picture . Knowing this fact is Wisdom , actualization brings on the transformation of the Individual and he becomes the Knower .
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Permalink Reply by Christian von Lahr on
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Not quite sure, Joe how you're meaning "experience." Is it experience like what someone achieves after being at a job a long time (an Expert), or is it more like [experiential] where we have an experience of that which we speak to/about? Every time I read it I can interpret it either way ... so, in a quandry how to respond.
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I'm going to use the experiential bent and speak to that. To which I would say Wisdom is some innate Truth, or a path to that Truth. It itself is not coming from experience, for the source of Wisdom was not learned it simply is/and always was ... and that is essentially a law or a truth, it cannot vary. [WE] may need to achieve something experiential in order to realize said truth, path or wisdom because Man will tend to explore every vein on a leaf and NOT take a direct approach (there just ain't much Angel left in us, we by nature learn the hard way.) Now THAT is that other kind of experience, the practice or expertise.
There's a part 2 to this, so it actually means something: We of the intellectual class [DON'T] or may not actually GET the Truth or Wisdom, but we sure can use reading or reference to speak to it - a substitute.
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I'm not quite getting the references to Buddha et'al in the replies ... to attain wisdom do we really have to have the SAME experience those illuminaries have, or do we simply have to pursue an interest in some law, truth, wisdom and derive [something]? Wouldn't what we take away be relative, thus perfect for us.
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Dear Christian ,
Yes you are absolutely correct when you say that the experience has to be homogenous , And it is so with relation to the final realization - but what leads to this is diverse experiences that individuals have during the inner search , since those experiences have their value only if we understand them in the light of the prevailing knowledge that we have as assets in the search . We should not interpret such fragmented instructions in the light of knowledge that we already possess - the experience has to be seen as an instruction in higher metaphysics is IN ADDITION to the already prevailing knowledge that we have . Now the question naturally crops up , if the existing knowledge that I have is insufficient in understanding the particular inner experience - by what knowledge may I know its meaning . One way is to ignore the experience and continue as one was doing , reading or practicing or discussing or any other instruments that were normally being used . Another is deep enquiry of what was the import of the instruction ''shown'' has to occupy ones mind . Much as you put a problem away and get its meaning when you wake up . Both will result in the instruction being clear -it will come from either outside sources or from within itself . Some times many days will pass , sometimes it may be quick , in between a focussed practitioner may have many diverse inner "instructions'' - he must be able to remember them - For there is a Vedic Injunction relating to questions and answers between the individual and the ''Self'' or "Master' or "inner Dialogue" - it is as follows :
The master is a person who can remember the questions put to him by the aspirant and will answer them - it is bounden upon the student to remember his questions and relate to the instruction received.
Acute and intense vigilance and openness and remembrance of all past doubts has to be there on part of the aspirant - failing which the instructions will miss their target - for there are no words in the metaphysical regions
Instead words are reflected as feelings and thoughts - and thoughts have colours , prana which is the vehicle for words have colours , sounds have colour , form (images) , movement (apparent), and are seen within the back drop of certain colours (which relate to grosser and succeedingly subtler levels ) .
It will be haphazard and quite confusing in cases where there are a multiplicity of instructions on a constant basis and one has to be very vigilant . In the case of few or no instructions it is also quite difficult as the instructions may sometimes span years , and in cases of no instruction (or no imagery etc ) - one has to "locate'' the instructions - by introspecting from child hood and examining how knowledge has grown within oneself over the years wiith the honest admission that they were all ''given and accepted '' (not aggrandized as ''my knowledge'') for after all what is knowledge ? it has been all our lives "come'' to us and not of our own (though we may think so ). Utmost honesty to oneself , strictness, and total lack of pity has to be there to oneself .
What you receive will be relative to your nature , but again the final realization will not be any different from that of Buddhas or anybody elses .
I hope I have been helpful - most of the things I have written can be culled from various books - I have only put them down together (more cohesively , I hope) for your information.
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To me Knowledge is Man's Consciousness exercising its authority, but Wisdom is something [Divine] exercising its authority. We will always be relatively less, so regardless of [our] knowledge, we must bow to Wisdom.
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Dear Christian .
There is never a higher or lower in consciousness or existence or even space for that matter it is so subtle as to be equally the same in and outside everyone. Knowledge , Intelligence and Existence (Consciousness=Knowledge) is there equally in everyone - these are extremely subtle principles subtler than the space . There is a Vedic instruction for the aspirant which specifically prohibits some things :
1. He should not bow before another nor make another bow before him .
2. He should live not doing anything himself nor getting another to do things.
3. He should not justify either to himself or to another .
4. He should not think "I have done this thing '' or ''I have not done this thing"
These are the prerequisites for the search .
Sum and substance are 1. Relates to seeing and treating everyone equally on the gross level and subtly it defines your relationship with the infinite - intent is always clear to the infinite and it accedes accordingly.
2. Relates to the giving up of instruments of Agency . (this is a bit more difficult and requires extreme understanding of will and action at subtler levels ). It can be practiced to an extent physically - but then it stops .
3. Both Physically and mentally this is to be the constant approach - for if he is not an agent as per 2, above how come he is called to account for his actions ? - It is a good way to differentiate between the ethics of society and the individual - there will be arise in discrimination and intuition .
4. Relates to the inner practice where one does not justify to oneself - this slowly erasing - conscience, morals, known ethics and moralities without a trace of doubt .
We cannot bow to wisdom - one is humbled through and through as it is lower than the lowest and higher than the highest at the same time yet deigns to treat us as equal as itself .!!
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