"To realize that our knowledge is ignorance,
This is noble insight.
To regard our ignorance as knowledge,
This is Mental sickness.
Only when we are sick or our sickness
Shall we cease to be sick.
The sage is not sick, being sick of sickness;
This is the secret of health."
- Lao Tzu -
Thank you for your thoughts...
2006-10-17 05:58:29 · 11 answers · asked by Shinkirou Hasukage 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Jmmevolve: You overcomplicate his words, the message is very simple, it is actually about being open minded: be prepared to challenge what you take to be true and not accept it at face value...
2006-10-17 06:10:33 · update #1
HEAD nurse: I am not trying to make a point, I am seeking others reflections on something I believe contains much wisdom and insight. The very nature of the Tao makes it possible to express in simple words...
2006-10-17 06:13:31 · update #2
Angk: I believe that this quote expresses your views on knowledge, and I could not agree more:
“Don't imagine that you'll discover the truth by accumulating more knowledge. Knowledge creates doubt, and doubt makes you ravenous for more knowledge. You can't get full eating this way”
- Lao Tzu -
2006-10-17 06:16:11 · update #3
Angk: I believe that this quote expresses your views on knowledge, and I could not agree more:
“Don't imagine that you'll discover the truth by accumulating more knowledge. Knowledge creates doubt, and doubt makes you ravenous for more knowledge. You can't get full eating this way”
- Lao Tzu -
2006-10-17 06:16:27 · update #4
The same as my thoughts on anything from the Tao Te Ching: Lao Tzu thought on a plane most people could never hope to attain, and there is a lot of wisdom in his words--you've just got to hack through it and work hard to find it. (And yes, I do think he employed it as an exclusionary tactic; if you're not going to put in the work to figure it out, you don't deserve the wisdom.)
More on track...I find that the more I learn about anything, the less I know about it--because I see so much more out there that I know nothing about besides a name or a reference. It just feeds the fire for knowledge...
ETA: Yep. This is why I like Ricoeur's theories of the first naivete/questioning period/second naivete: There comes a point when the questioning and searching must stop and one must accept what they have, or else satisfaction and happiness cannot be gained.
2006-10-17 06:10:31 · answer #1 · answered by angk 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a researcher and scientist, I learned a long time ago, the more I learn and discover the less I know, and with that the journey to knowledge and wisdom continues...the first part of the quote says a lot...the second part is disconnected from the first so I only focused on the first.
2006-10-17 13:09:46 · answer #2 · answered by chico2149 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lao Tzu rocks. He's saying that the people with true insight know where their knowledge is limited and act accordingly. But the stupid, thinking they know more than they do, constantly suffer from their own stupidity.
Socrates, the father of greek philosophy, said the same thing! :)
2006-10-17 13:09:22 · answer #3 · answered by likwiddraino000 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are they a combined quote? They are on 2 different topics. Knowledge, insight, ignorance, mental illness. That appeared to be quite a leap of logic? All knowledge is merely our mind or consicousness and is limited by our material energies. To think we have knowledge in any one area is to limit our own investigation of further knowledge. Be open minded.
2006-10-17 13:06:04 · answer #4 · answered by jmmevolve 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's all about having an open mind, and never becoming too satisfied with your own opinions... always refining your outlook on life, and ensuring that your way is the right way, even if that means changing it...
Welcome to the reason why so many Taoists are atheists/agnostics.
2006-10-17 13:07:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I have a similar thought too, if you consider his second paragraph and my question i posted a few weeks ago.
I asked
"If procrastination is bad, should i procrastinate now, or later?"
and the best answer choosen was
"Procrastination on good proposals is bad.
Procrastination on bad proposals is good, especially if the tomorrow never comes. "
2006-10-17 13:09:35 · answer #6 · answered by Just Me 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
interesting concept as there are many similar concepts and each person needs to find the concepts which fit their personality, lifestyle and Religious Belief System the best.
2006-10-17 13:07:19 · answer #7 · answered by Marvin R 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Life is as heavy as a stone,Death as light as a feather
2006-10-17 13:16:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
ok here's the deal. you are obviously trying to make a point, so make one. say what's on your mind. go back to the drawing board. and to answer your question I don't like your poem and I don't understand it.
2006-10-17 13:09:41 · answer #9 · answered by NO delusions 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
i think i know which group of global cultists he was referring to.
2006-10-17 13:08:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋