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Wisdom



The best differentiation between knowledge and wisdom is given by Miles Kington, British musician. “Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit,” he said. “Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.”

Wisdom is not an accumulation of knowledge, as I used to think for a long time. I kept on reading book after book on every possible topic under the sun from religion to science deluded by the hope that I would be wise one day until I realised that the semiliterate neighbour of mine whom I offered a lift once was far wiser than me though he had never read any book. What makes us happy or miserable is just a choice we make, he said when I made a snide remark on a hoarding that promised all Indians achhe din, happy days.

“Knowledge is something you possess. Wisdom is something you do.” Nobody could have put it better than Eric Weiner [The Socrates Express]. I know that I am a silly old man on a tiny planet in a cosmos that has billions of galaxies. But I act as if I am the Lord of the cosmos.

I am not wise, in other words. Will I ever achieve wisdom? I don’t know. Is wisdom limited to a few? To a rare Buddha, Christ, and Mahatma?

I am tempted to think that wisdom is a rare prerogative. But this neighbour who accepted my offer of a ride leaves me thinking otherwise. Some are wise and others are otherwise, as one of my teachers used to say long ago. Sometimes you will run into one of those ‘some’ on the roadside waiting, beneath a hoarding that promises an illusion, for a public carrier while you drive your precious private vehicle. Wisdom is not necessarily rare.

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon.

 

Comments

  1. Yamini MacLeanJune 22, 2021 at 10:25 PM

    Hari OM
    It is not rare - but is, perhaps, rarely used! Another facet is that knowledge is often acquired for ego satisfaction. The ego itself blocks the flow of wisdom... Having all the knowledge in the world serves us little if we know not how - and when - to apply it. That takes practice. And yes, some seem to have it naturally! YAM xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Deepak DevarajJune 23, 2021 at 12:10 AM

    Good post!!
    Maybe wisdom is one reason why computers cannot replace humans as yet.
    Humans need to nurture this gift that they have.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalJune 23, 2021 at 8:50 AM

      Can we program computers to be wise too? Maybe one day we'll do that too.

      Delete
  3. Chinmayee Gayatree SahuJune 23, 2021 at 12:22 AM

    Wisdom might not be rare but is it not difficult to achieve? May be after a lot of mistakes we understand things better!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalJune 23, 2021 at 8:51 AM

      At least in my case this is true. I learned a lot of things through mistakes.

      Delete
  4. जितेन्द्र माथुरJune 23, 2021 at 2:32 PM

    Wisdom may dawn upon anybody at any point of his/her life. However it's useful for himself/herself only. It's futile to preach others on the basis of that wisdom of oneself. The sermons of Buddha and Mahavira did not make the world or the life of the people (who listened to them) any better (they might have got some additional satisfaction by delivering them though).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalJune 23, 2021 at 9:53 PM

      Wisdom can't be communicated. That's why Buddha and Mahavira failed. Wisdom can be learnt, however, as Eric Weiner (mentioned in the post) argues. That's why Buddha and others preached.

      Delete
  5. Chetan MaheshwariJune 24, 2021 at 8:32 PM

    Some are wise and others are otherwise...wow,

    Wisdom I think can come if we try to reflect on our actions and reactions to situations...We may know it what to do in future

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalJune 25, 2021 at 5:18 AM

      Of course we can acquire wisdom by contemplation and so on.

      Delete
  6. LehaJune 25, 2021 at 2:56 AM

    It is true that wisdom is not merely an accumulation of knowledge. We may gather a lot of knowledge over time but wisdom is something on another level beyond pride and like you said not necessarily rare

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalJune 25, 2021 at 5:19 AM

      Pride is perhaps the biggest obstacle on the way to wisdom.

      Delete
  7. ArtiJune 25, 2021 at 8:37 PM

    Loved every word of this wise and delightful post. And then read Yamini's comment. I'm smiling.
    Thank you.
    Keep shining your light, dear friend.

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownJune 29, 2021 at 9:55 AM

    They say, in a world full of tricksters, the wise suffer. Or do they? A beautiful and thought provoking post.

    ReplyDelete

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