An Understanding Mind

An understandable mind is a step closer to innovation, and two inches deeper to wisdom.

Knowledge is attaining facts, information, and skills by an individual gained through experience, education or a combination of both. Knowledge and wisdom have a long history of philosophy and philosophers. From Aristotle to Descartes to Nozick have defended theories of wisdom that require a "wise person" to have knowledge of some sort. However, one must understand before one becomes knowledgeable, what’re the further perspectives of an understanding mind?

The ability to understand or teach is due to the intellect present within the person: Understanding requires a person's ability to grasp or comprehend information. Having a teachable attitude and spirit is necessary for that. Too often assumptions and prejudices get in the way of understanding. It is the responsibility of each individual to examine themselves and to make sure they are open to true understanding. Assumptions and prejudices are due to a lack of deeper understanding. So far wisdom and knowledge have evolved in humans with their eyes and ears open to understand. Understanding has happened to the human, which is a reflection of the intellect that has evolved.

There's a difference first of all between knowledge and understanding. Knowledge by definition is "information, understanding, or skill that you get from experience or education." One must "understand" before one becomes "knowledgeable." Or you have to understand, then be understood. Secondly, the human has a choice when it comes to understanding something. Human beings are born diverse, only when we are growing, we are taught limitations and boundaries. Knowledge is neutral and can be used for good and become beautiful -- or it can be used to harm others and becomes ugly. It is unfortunate when we become so narrow in our view that we have to put others down. This is not understanding, this is not knowledge, this is ego! Putting others down reflects superficial understanding and knowledge that has happened to the ego and neither deep understanding nor wisdom. Hopefully, knowledge and understanding lead us to the divine, beauty, truth, and understanding of the process of living.

Wisdom, knowledge, understanding are all relative terms. Knowledge is simply about understanding the world outside/inside of ourselves. Wisdom is the knowledge that is used to benefit others, hence, it implies a loving/supportive application. Wisdom = knowledge + love. Common sense, on the other hand, is connected to one's perception as well as their knowledge base. When the mind listens to itself, then it tries to connect by association. A heart is full of love and an ear is ready to listen and a hand is willing to help ALL when understanding happens that knowledge has happened, and wisdom emerges. Knowledge is beautiful because the ear that listens only receives sound waves but nevertheless sound results as knowledge. When the mind keeps on empowering the differences, with the intention that differences should remain solid, in solitude and isolated - differences are excluded from becoming a wholeness in the mind of anyone and people won't be offered to become a wholeness as well.

The reality principle is one of the most important of Sigmund Freud's theories of psychology and human mental development. According to Freud, the reality principle serves to guide people toward following the rules of proper social action and engagement rather than their impulses for the immediate satisfaction of their desires for pleasure.” (study.com) It forces us to consider the risks, requirements, and outcomes of various decisions we make. The reality principle exists within the minds of individuals to satisfy the needs and desires of the id. The "id" is responsible for our primal and instinctive drives for pleasure and survival. So if one follows the "intelligence hierarchy": data; information, knowledge, and wisdom, one can determine where they are in the intelligence pecking order, that is if they have the knowledge and education to comprehend the hierarchy. The Hebrew word translated "Wisdom" is alternately translated as "Skill" which means the ability to do something in a more meaningful, more knowing and more understanding way. It is remarkable how translating things between languages can improve one’s understanding. An understandable mind is a step closer to reach the wisdom which is an ultimate level of intelligence that is acquired and obtained from the culmination and compilation of knowledge gathered over many years.

Posted in: Information/Data Management,Learning,Mindshift,Principle/Practice