Post by jca2008 on Jun 20, 2010 6:44:52 GMT -5
Since I have been trying to get into a more spiritual way of living and learning, I am slowly realizing that everything we learn is Outside Knowledge and not Inside Knowledge.
What I mean by this is that we can learn to be doctors, lawyers, mechanics, or anything in the world but it's all junk we are learning about. Instead, we need to learn about ourselves: Inside Knowledge, or Body Wisdom.
Here is a few pages from a great book I read! The Way Of The Peaceful Warrior, Written by Dan Millman:
What I mean by this is that we can learn to be doctors, lawyers, mechanics, or anything in the world but it's all junk we are learning about. Instead, we need to learn about ourselves: Inside Knowledge, or Body Wisdom.
Here is a few pages from a great book I read! The Way Of The Peaceful Warrior, Written by Dan Millman:
"The world out there," he said, waving his arm across the horizon, "is a school, Dan. Life is the only real teacher. It offers many experiences, and if experience alone brought wisdom and fulfillment, then elderly people would all be happy,
But the lessons of experience are hidden. I can help you learn from experience to see the world clearly, and clarity is something you desperately need right now. Your intuition knows this is tree, but your mind rebels; you've experienced much, but you've learned little."
"I don't know about that, Socrates. I mean, I wouldn't go that far. ''
"No, Dan, you don't know about it yet, but you will. And you will go that far and beyond; I can assure you."
We headed back for the office just as a shiny red Toyota pulled in. Socrates continued talking as he opened the gas tank. "'Like most people, you've been taught to gather information from outside yourself; from books, magazines, experts." He stuck the gas nozzle into the tank. "Like this car, you open up and let the facts pour in. Sometimes the information is premium and sometimes it's low octane. You buy your knowledge at the current market rates, much like you buy gasoline."
"Hey, thanks for reminding me. My tuition check for next quarter is due in two days!"
Socrates just nodded and continued to fill the customer's tank. When the tank was full, Socrates kept pumping gas, until fuel started overflowing the tank and pouring down onto the ground. A flood of gasoline ran across the pavement.
"Socrates! The tank is full--watch what you're doing?' Ignoring me, he let the flood continue--saying, "Dan, like this gas tank, you are overflowing with preconceptions; full of useless knowledge. You hold many facts and opinions, yet know little of yourself. Before you can learn, you'll have to first empty your tank." He grinned at me, winked, and turning the pump off with a click, added, "Clean up the mess, will you?"
I got the feeling he was referring to more than the spilled gas. I hurriedly watered down the pavement. Soc took the driver's money and gave him back some change and a smile. We walked back to the office and settled in.
"What are you going to do, fill me full of your facts?" I bristled.
"No, I'm not going to burden you with more facts; I'm going to show you 'body wisdom'. Everything you'll ever need to know is within you; the secrets of the universe are imprinted on the cells of your body. But you haven't learned inner vision; you don't know how to read the body. Your only recourse has been to read
books and listen to experts and hope they are right. When you learn body wisdom, you'll be a Teacher among teachers."
I made an effort not to smirk. This gas station attendant was accusing my professors of ignorance and implying that my college education was pointless! "Oh, sure Socrates, I understand what you mean by this 'body wisdom' idea, but I don't buy it."
He shook his head slowly. "You understand many things but have realized practically nothing."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Understanding is one dimensional. It is the comprehension of the intellect. It leads to knowledge, which you have. Realization, on the other hand, is three dimensional. It is the simultaneous comprehension of the 'whole-body'---the head, heart, and physical instincts. It comes only from clear experience."
"I'm still not with you."
"'Do you remember when you first learned to drive? Prior to that time, you'd been a passenger; you only understood what it was. But you realized what it was like when you did it for the first time."
"That's right" I said. "I remember feeling, "So that's what it's like!"
"Exactly! That phrase describes the experience .of realization perfectly. One day, you'll say the same thing about life."
I sat quietly for a moment, then piped up. "You still haven't explained 'body wisdom.' "
"Come with me," Socrates beckoned, leading me toward the door marked "Private." Once inside, we were in total darkness. I started to tense, but then the fear gave way to keen anticipation. I was about to learn my first real secret: body wisdom.
The lights flashed on. We were in a bathroom and Socrates was peeing loudly into the toilet bowl. "This," he said proudly, "is body wisdom." His laughter echoed off the tile walls as I walked out and sat down on the couch and glared at the rug.
When he came out, I said, "Socrates, I still want to know..."
"If you are going to call me 'Socrates'," he interrupted, "you might at least do the name honor by allowing me to ask the questions, on occasion, and you can answer them. How does that sound?'"
"'Fine!" I responded. "You just asked your question, and I answered it. Now it's my turn. About that flying stunt you pulled the other night .... "
"You are a persistent young man, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am. I didn't get where I am today without persistence.
And that's another question you got a straight answer for. Now, can we deal with some of mine?"
Ignoring me, he asked, "Where are you today, right now?'" Eagerly, I started talking about myself. However, I noticed that I was being sidetracked from getting answers to my questions. Still, I told him about my distant and recent past and about my inexplicable depressions. He listened patiently and intently, as if he had all the time in the world, until I finished several hours later,
"Very well," he said. "But you have still not answered my question about where you are."
"Yes I did, remember? I told you how I got to where I am today by hard work."
"Where are you?"
"What do you mean, where am I?"
"Where are you?" he repeated softly.
"'I'm here."
"'Where is here?"
"'In this office, in this gas station!" I was getting impatient with this game.
"Where is this gas station?'"
"'In Berkeley."
"Where is Berkeley?'"
"'In California."
"Where is California?'"
"'In the United States."
"Where is the United States?"
"'On a land mass, one of the continents in the Western. Hemisphere
Socrates, I . . ."
"'Where are the continents?"
I sighed. "On the earth. Are we done yet?"
"Where is the earth?"
"In the solar system, third planet from the sun. The sun is a small star in the Milky Way galaxy, all right?"
"Where is the Milky Way?"
"Oh, brother," I sighed impatiently, roiling my eyes, "In the Universe." I sat back and crossed my arms with finality.
"And where," Socrates smiled, "is the Universe?"
"The Universe is, well, there are theories about how it's shaped . . ."
"That's not what I asked. Where is it?"
"I don't know--how can I answer that?"
"That is the point. You cannot answer it, and you never will. There is no knowing about it. You are ignorant of where the Universe is, and thus, where you are. In fact, you have no knowledge of where anything is; nor do you know what anything is or how it came to be. It's a mystery.
"My ignorance, Dan, is based on this understanding. Your understanding is based on ignorance. I am a humorous fool; you are a serious jackass."
"Listen," I said, "there are things you should know about me. For one thing, I'm already a warrior of sorts. I'm a damn good gymnast." To punctuate what I'd said and to show him I could be spontaneous, I stood up from the couch and did a standing backward somersault, landing gracefully on the carpet.
"Dan, I have places to show you and tales to tell. I have secrets to unfold. But before we begin this journey together, you must appreciate that a secret's value is not in what you know, but what you do with what you know.
Soc took an old dictionary from his drawer and held it in the air.
"Use whatever knowledge you have but see its limitations. Knowledge alone does not suffice; it has no heart. No amount of knowledge will nourish or sustain your spirit; it can never bring you ultimate happiness or peace. Life requires more than knowledge; it requires intense feeling and constant energy. Life demands right action if knowledge is to come alive."
"I know that, Soc."
"That's your problem---you know but you don't act. You're not a warrior."
"Socrates, I just can't believe that. I know at times I've acted like a warrior, when the pressure was really on--you should see me in the gym!"
"Granted that you may, in fact, experience the mind of a warrior on occasion; resolute, flexible, clear, and free of doubt. You can develop the body of a warrior, lithe, supple, sensitive, and filled with energy. In rare moments, you may even feel the heart of a warrior, loving everything and everyone who appears before you. But these qualities are fragmented in you. You lack integration. My
task is to put you back together again, Humpty."
But the lessons of experience are hidden. I can help you learn from experience to see the world clearly, and clarity is something you desperately need right now. Your intuition knows this is tree, but your mind rebels; you've experienced much, but you've learned little."
"I don't know about that, Socrates. I mean, I wouldn't go that far. ''
"No, Dan, you don't know about it yet, but you will. And you will go that far and beyond; I can assure you."
We headed back for the office just as a shiny red Toyota pulled in. Socrates continued talking as he opened the gas tank. "'Like most people, you've been taught to gather information from outside yourself; from books, magazines, experts." He stuck the gas nozzle into the tank. "Like this car, you open up and let the facts pour in. Sometimes the information is premium and sometimes it's low octane. You buy your knowledge at the current market rates, much like you buy gasoline."
"Hey, thanks for reminding me. My tuition check for next quarter is due in two days!"
Socrates just nodded and continued to fill the customer's tank. When the tank was full, Socrates kept pumping gas, until fuel started overflowing the tank and pouring down onto the ground. A flood of gasoline ran across the pavement.
"Socrates! The tank is full--watch what you're doing?' Ignoring me, he let the flood continue--saying, "Dan, like this gas tank, you are overflowing with preconceptions; full of useless knowledge. You hold many facts and opinions, yet know little of yourself. Before you can learn, you'll have to first empty your tank." He grinned at me, winked, and turning the pump off with a click, added, "Clean up the mess, will you?"
I got the feeling he was referring to more than the spilled gas. I hurriedly watered down the pavement. Soc took the driver's money and gave him back some change and a smile. We walked back to the office and settled in.
"What are you going to do, fill me full of your facts?" I bristled.
"No, I'm not going to burden you with more facts; I'm going to show you 'body wisdom'. Everything you'll ever need to know is within you; the secrets of the universe are imprinted on the cells of your body. But you haven't learned inner vision; you don't know how to read the body. Your only recourse has been to read
books and listen to experts and hope they are right. When you learn body wisdom, you'll be a Teacher among teachers."
I made an effort not to smirk. This gas station attendant was accusing my professors of ignorance and implying that my college education was pointless! "Oh, sure Socrates, I understand what you mean by this 'body wisdom' idea, but I don't buy it."
He shook his head slowly. "You understand many things but have realized practically nothing."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Understanding is one dimensional. It is the comprehension of the intellect. It leads to knowledge, which you have. Realization, on the other hand, is three dimensional. It is the simultaneous comprehension of the 'whole-body'---the head, heart, and physical instincts. It comes only from clear experience."
"I'm still not with you."
"'Do you remember when you first learned to drive? Prior to that time, you'd been a passenger; you only understood what it was. But you realized what it was like when you did it for the first time."
"That's right" I said. "I remember feeling, "So that's what it's like!"
"Exactly! That phrase describes the experience .of realization perfectly. One day, you'll say the same thing about life."
I sat quietly for a moment, then piped up. "You still haven't explained 'body wisdom.' "
"Come with me," Socrates beckoned, leading me toward the door marked "Private." Once inside, we were in total darkness. I started to tense, but then the fear gave way to keen anticipation. I was about to learn my first real secret: body wisdom.
The lights flashed on. We were in a bathroom and Socrates was peeing loudly into the toilet bowl. "This," he said proudly, "is body wisdom." His laughter echoed off the tile walls as I walked out and sat down on the couch and glared at the rug.
When he came out, I said, "Socrates, I still want to know..."
"If you are going to call me 'Socrates'," he interrupted, "you might at least do the name honor by allowing me to ask the questions, on occasion, and you can answer them. How does that sound?'"
"'Fine!" I responded. "You just asked your question, and I answered it. Now it's my turn. About that flying stunt you pulled the other night .... "
"You are a persistent young man, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am. I didn't get where I am today without persistence.
And that's another question you got a straight answer for. Now, can we deal with some of mine?"
Ignoring me, he asked, "Where are you today, right now?'" Eagerly, I started talking about myself. However, I noticed that I was being sidetracked from getting answers to my questions. Still, I told him about my distant and recent past and about my inexplicable depressions. He listened patiently and intently, as if he had all the time in the world, until I finished several hours later,
"Very well," he said. "But you have still not answered my question about where you are."
"Yes I did, remember? I told you how I got to where I am today by hard work."
"Where are you?"
"What do you mean, where am I?"
"Where are you?" he repeated softly.
"'I'm here."
"'Where is here?"
"'In this office, in this gas station!" I was getting impatient with this game.
"Where is this gas station?'"
"'In Berkeley."
"Where is Berkeley?'"
"'In California."
"Where is California?'"
"'In the United States."
"Where is the United States?"
"'On a land mass, one of the continents in the Western. Hemisphere
Socrates, I . . ."
"'Where are the continents?"
I sighed. "On the earth. Are we done yet?"
"Where is the earth?"
"In the solar system, third planet from the sun. The sun is a small star in the Milky Way galaxy, all right?"
"Where is the Milky Way?"
"Oh, brother," I sighed impatiently, roiling my eyes, "In the Universe." I sat back and crossed my arms with finality.
"And where," Socrates smiled, "is the Universe?"
"The Universe is, well, there are theories about how it's shaped . . ."
"That's not what I asked. Where is it?"
"I don't know--how can I answer that?"
"That is the point. You cannot answer it, and you never will. There is no knowing about it. You are ignorant of where the Universe is, and thus, where you are. In fact, you have no knowledge of where anything is; nor do you know what anything is or how it came to be. It's a mystery.
"My ignorance, Dan, is based on this understanding. Your understanding is based on ignorance. I am a humorous fool; you are a serious jackass."
"Listen," I said, "there are things you should know about me. For one thing, I'm already a warrior of sorts. I'm a damn good gymnast." To punctuate what I'd said and to show him I could be spontaneous, I stood up from the couch and did a standing backward somersault, landing gracefully on the carpet.
"Dan, I have places to show you and tales to tell. I have secrets to unfold. But before we begin this journey together, you must appreciate that a secret's value is not in what you know, but what you do with what you know.
Soc took an old dictionary from his drawer and held it in the air.
"Use whatever knowledge you have but see its limitations. Knowledge alone does not suffice; it has no heart. No amount of knowledge will nourish or sustain your spirit; it can never bring you ultimate happiness or peace. Life requires more than knowledge; it requires intense feeling and constant energy. Life demands right action if knowledge is to come alive."
"I know that, Soc."
"That's your problem---you know but you don't act. You're not a warrior."
"Socrates, I just can't believe that. I know at times I've acted like a warrior, when the pressure was really on--you should see me in the gym!"
"Granted that you may, in fact, experience the mind of a warrior on occasion; resolute, flexible, clear, and free of doubt. You can develop the body of a warrior, lithe, supple, sensitive, and filled with energy. In rare moments, you may even feel the heart of a warrior, loving everything and everyone who appears before you. But these qualities are fragmented in you. You lack integration. My
task is to put you back together again, Humpty."