Be Aware of This — Understanding Our True Self — Part 10
Be Aware of What Is — Three Kinds of Knowledge — Pure Awareness
With Be Aware Of This, we conclude the first chapter of Understanding Our True Self, titled I Am.
Thank you for being part of the journey of deepening our understanding of who and what we truly are. Next week, we start with the second chapter, with the title The Mind. We will explore the relation of the mind to our true self, and how to cultivate the mind as a tool to understand the structure of reality.
Be Aware of What Is
All nature is aware, not in the sense of “I am aware that I am aware”, but of being connected in an interconnected world. There is no such thing as unawareness because that would mean not being connected, and that is impossible by definition. There are no missing links. Awareness is at the beginning, during the journey, and at the end. Being aware of this is supreme knowledge.
This runs like this:
1. Awareness
2. The three kinds of knowledge;
1. theoretical,
2. experiential-practical,
3. theoretical-experiential-practical.
3. Awareness
There is little to say about awareness, it is beyond mental understanding. Awareness is multidimensional; mental understanding is one-dimensional (linear, we can only think one thought at a time). Nevertheless, awareness should be present in our thinking in order to reach higher levels of understanding.
The Three Kinds of Knowledge
Each knowledge has its own meaning and functionality in the never-ending learning process we call life. There is no competition between the three, but with the theoretical-experiential-practical approach, we arrive at supreme knowledge. But that does not devalue the other two. Remember that, in wisdom, everything has its own value.
Theoretical Knowledge
Theoretical knowledge is beautiful. It can open up infinite dimensions of the mysteries of life. It invites us to play and discover the unknown. We can think of anything without any limitation, and sometimes while playing, we find something that is worse to give it a try in the real world.
Theory is the map of reality. It helps guide us on the path of learning and understanding and supports the necessary actions for the best possible outcome of our endeavors.
All transmissions of wisdom and sacred texts are shared information, and information by its very nature is theoretical knowledge. It does not yet have the connecting vitality that can only come from experience. But nevertheless, information, from the Latin “informare”, which means “to form” or “to give shape”, carries within it the seed of becoming real, and therefore it has a tendency towards “connective aliveness”.
At its core, information can lead to transformation by taking raw material, be it ideas or experiences, and giving it structure, meaning, and clarity. It is therefore advisable to exercise the mental muscles, that shape the art of perception and cultivate neuroplasticity.
Experiential-Practical Knowledge
All theoretical knowledge has a tendency to become real, to become an experience, and to be practical.
Thinking is good, experience is better
It is one thing to think about love, but it is the experience that counts. We live in the experience. That’s what really matters. The art of practical knowledge is to bring theoretical knowledge into the world, at best the good part of it, and leave the rest in the abstract space.
Experience without knowledge is pure awareness and perfection. Life takes care of everything.
We can have experience, but without adequate knowledge, it will create chaos and usually not be beneficial for us and the world. The final result will be confusion and suffering. This leads us to the necessity of the highest knowledge, the theoretical-experiential-practical.
Theoretical-Experiential-Practical-Knowledge
This knowledge unifies everything.
Knowledge must serve life for the good of all. Not only humans, but all life forms and the entire living cosmos, should benefit from knowledge. This means that we practice theoretical-experiential-practical knowledge in our daily lives.
The Sufis have a saying: the knowledge that is not practical is like a donkey carrying books. The map of reality is beautiful, and a great tool, but it is only a map. What matters is the real landscape, the experience, and the practical application.
Using knowledge wisely is the highest form of love. The experience of compassion for all life forms is an expression of this knowledge. If we want to know if we are gifted with this knowledge, peace is the measure. If our lives are guided by a deep sense of peace, then the highest knowledge has found us worthy to share it with the world.
Pure awareness
Sublime knowledge leads to pure awareness, which closes the circle, and we are at home beyond all knowledge.