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KNOWLEDGE

Intro

"Dreamers"

To some, knowledge is a destination,

to other, a routine.

Tumbleweed

I know a fellow who is a College Professor, who calls his gardener to replace a light bulb.

Knowledge takes on many forms. There's book knowledge, street knowledge, wilderness knowledge- and the list goes on and on.

I wonder what the Sages have to say on this subject.

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Trying to differentiate between Knowledge, Wisdom and Truth is difficult since their borders are quite blurred. However, I have included this first one from the Christian Bible because it seems to clarify the search:

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask God who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given to him."

While on the Bible, here is another that leads us plainly into Knowledge:

"Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. If any one imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if he loves God, one is known by him." (And)

"Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? .... For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

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The following are some insights from Islam:

"The search for knowledge is an obligation laid on every Muslim." (And)

"Whoever goes after unreasonable and unnecessary rationalization will never be able to reach truth."

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Buddhism has this to say:

"A good, all-round education, appreciation of the arts, a highly trained discipline and pleasant speech; this is the highest blessing." (And)

"All philosophies in the world are mental fabrications; There has never been a single doctrine by which one could enter the true essence of things."

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Judaism and Christianity share this:

"Of making many books there is no end, and much study is weariness of the flesh."

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While Sikhism has this to say:

"A thousand and hundred thousand feats of intellect shall not accompany man in the hereafter."

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An interesting view from the religions of Native Americans:

"My now-deceased mother scolded me. She said, "Go away somewhere into the wilderness, since all you seem to do is look at books. For all the days to come you will be pitiful because the book blocks your path. Never will anything be revealed to you in a vision, for you live like the white man."

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Taoism has this to say which helps separate knowledge and wisdom:

"True words are not fine sounding; Fine-sounding words are not true. The good man does not prove by argument; And he who proves by argument is not good.

"True wisdom is different from much learning. Much learning means little wisdom." (Also)

"So the world is dulled and darkened by great confusion. The blame lies in the coveting of knowledge.

"In the world everyone knows enough to pursue what he already knows. Everyone knows enough to condemn what he takes to be no good, but no one knows enough to condemn what he has already taken to be good. .... So great is the confusion of the world that comes from coveting knowledge!"

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To conclude, this from Confucianism as a good lead-in to our story:

"The superior man acquaints himself with many sayings of antiquity And many deeds of the past, In order to strengthen his character thereby."

Rules