What type of life would you envision for someone whose life goal is to accumulate wisdom?

Question

Yeah, this does sort of represent one of my life goals. For me, the accumulation of wisdom comes from a diversity of experiences. Finding a good balance is difficult thought. It would mean experiencing the struggles of the rich and the struggles of the poor. Knowing the struggles of the beautiful and the struggles of the ugly, etc. Of course it is impossible to know every experience, I just want to know what people's best plan would be.

Answer 1

To acquire great wisdom one must do every stupid thing imaginable. You see I know from experience, and I still believe wisdom is just around the corner, any minute now.

Trying to be wise is the wrong approach.

I knew a 20 year old who didn't want to ever be wrong and he tried to argue his point of view and got angry when I proved him wrong time and time again. It was easy to prove him wrong because he had such a desire to be right that he could not see the truth. All he could do was defend his beliefs. I had no desire to be right, in fact I wanted to be wrong so he never noticed when I lost the argument because it was my goal to lose. I told him:

To lose an argument and be proven wrong is to lose your ignorance and gain new knowledge so if you succeed at proving your a wise young man you'll end up a stupid old man

Beliefs are the other obstacle on the road to wisdom. When you eliminate everything you believe, you are left with the truth.

Answer 2

I could not envision any life but my own. I have always been a seeker after knowledge--the key to wisdom--and the balance to take the knowledge found with the way to deal with it judiciously. Every ripple you put in the pond generates a further ripple, which will reach into lives and generations. A smile in the morning to a person who feels they're having a bad day can influence the existence of millions. A cheerful greeting can affect the life of one individual, who then speaks to others, and on it goes...

If you want to accumulate wisdom, you must first become satisfied with yourself. Your life purpose should be defendable, and you will have the ability to admit your weaknesses. You must be open-minded, communicative, and have the propensity to be humble, proud, and know how to balance the two.

It takes time, and conscious effort, to accomplish these goals. If you want further guidance, based on your personal agenda, please contact me. At 52 1/2, I'm still learning...

Answer 3

Wheelbar, this is a very interesting question. As you stated, we continue to learn as we live. Offering volunteer work is one way to learn about diverse people. Letting others know that you want to know more about them is another way to learn. When you show a sincere interest in someone, they will usually tell you quite a bit. Our world is full of very unique cultures and lifestyles. On-line chat is another way to gain valuable wisdom. I've chatted with people from all over the world and learned so much. You could also enroll in a sociology course. Keep in mind that every person is different in some way - some more than others.

Answer 4

Having a life goal to accumulate wisdom means to be on a different thinking level than most people. I don't buy the facade that one must be unattached from society and people to achieve wisdom.
You must be engaged with people. What good is wisdom if it does not help others?

Answer 5

I like to call them/us seekers. One without judgment or roots I guess, I never really thought about it. I've learned many things through many different jobs, or lives I can honestly say I've seen the world even though I have not traveled. I've worked with Vietnamese and Greek immigrants All though I was born here picking worms that are sold to the US in farms and fields located just out of Toronto, The stock market, mutual fund industry, bars of various degrees, motorcycle shops, strip joints, I'm a singer, Ice Cream trucks .Hairdesser, hospitals for the disabled um grip for tv interview hair for a comercial, um I can't remeber any more. To some I may seem like a looser, but in fact I have more wisdom because of it. Well I guess I could go on I'm embarassed at all of it, but your question made me think about it more positvley, thanks. I have no culter, religon or familly tradition, I am always intreged by there sence of pride. I people watch, I question myself to exhaution. Hummm I hope you get something out of this.

Answer 6

I would suggest traveler, adventuer, Europe, Africa, Canada, and yes America (North, central, south). Kayak down the Colorado river, rock climb in Death Valley, surf off the coast of South Africa, Hike Northern Italy, get drunk in Paris w/ Paris. Etc, etc.

Answer 7

All a matter of choices, priorities.

Probably not the life many would want, but one with rewards of a sort.

Answer 8

A traveling monk, speaking to everyone he meets and yet spending lots of time on his own, away from people, just meditating.

Answer 9

Depends on how you go about doing that. Do you have a game plan? If so what is it? The whole thing sounds kinda cool!

Answer 10

A simple, humble and un-noticed life that is full of peace.