Learn to Learn

If you do nothing else with your life, learn to learn.

You have been taught how not to learn. You have been taught how to compile data, but you have not learned how to learn.

There are three descending levels of Knowledge:

Wisdom

Understanding

General Knowledge or Know-How

The level of general knowledge is the level of know-how and technical knowledge. It can be as simple as knowing how to tie one's shoes or as complicated as rocket science, but it is no more than the compiling, collating and disseminating of data.

The second level is higher. Here one understands the meaning of the data that one has compiled, understands the moment of it, appreciates the value of it, considers it with awe and knows how to apply it for the good.

Wisdom is the ability to see into the Soul of matter. There is not much to say about this level of Knowledge because it is the substrate from which all mathematics and linguistics proceed, therefore it does not avail itself of description. It is That which is caught, not taught.

I have said that the levels of Knowledge above are in descending order. They also encompass and contain one another. When one has Wisdom, one has Understanding and knows the basis of General Knowledge. It does not work in reverse. One may be a rocket scientist, a physicist, a physician, but not understand the data at all and be a wholly unwise person.

Most scientists are stuck on the lowest level of General Knowledge. Do not be fooled by their claims to being committed to verification by empirical proofs and their loyalty to "science". No matter how high-falutin' this sounds, it exists on the lowest rung of cognition. They understand very little and are not wise people.

Learn from those who have dedicated their lives to acquiring Wisdom, not hoarding data.

When you meet a person like this, if there is Wisdom within you, you will know them. You will resonate with them. They will reach you on the deepest levels of your being. They will not attempt to teach you by browbeating or by insults or by appeals to authority. They will be gentle in touching your mind and your Spirit. They will not trample on your Humanity and your dignity. They will teach by example, and not demand that you believe them and accept everything they say. They will be so subtle in teaching that you may not even realize that it is their intention to guide you. You will simply be riveted by how they relate to other beings and how they comport themselves.

Doreen Ellen Bell-Dotan, Tzfat, Israel