Knowledge; what is it and what is the purpose of nurturing it?

We are now at a phase where humans have made knowledge a dangerous thing; many aspects of modern knowledge using modern science and technology are more harmful to humans than any body of knowledge has ever been

By Surya Vishwa 

Knowledge; what is it? What is the purpose of nurturing it? What are the types of knowledge we have?

In Buddhistic thinking it is believed that to achieve a human life (which is based on the Karmic accounts of our past actions – beyond death and life) is a very difficult task. Once this bounty, difficulty achieved is received it is up to each human being to put this life to best use; both spiritually and materially so that these two aspects go hand in hand holistically so that finally we succeed in the ultimate sansaric goal of a totally detached state which is nivana. 

The difficult part of this whole cycle is of course each lifetime. Between an unsure birth and a certain death there is this thing called life. To live it wisely, happily is why we have different fields of knowledge. The categories of knowledge are endless and keep evolving and developing. 

This earth is some 4.5 billion years old and the segments of knowledge have appeared with the passing of time, thought up by humans in accordance with many other factors, such as natural resources pertaining to different geographical locations which different sets of humans have divided up as different nations.

Much of our knowledge spheres come from the innovative use of natural resources which is how technology has evolved over time such as from the pyramids to the modern technology linked constructions.

While the concept and reach of knowledge could be limitless and much of it as said above linked to different material resources, another large segment of knowledge is connected with the non-material. Knowledge that is connected with self-awareness is part of the above mentioned body of knowledge. These categories of knowledge fall to spiritual awareness and could influence material realities as well. 

For example the root of the Ayurvedic medicine industry is from a non-material based knowledge; the ability to understand, control and expand the reach of the mind to be able to connect to realities beyond the self which is how knowledge of medicinal properties of different herbs and leaves were developed. They were developed in the laboratory of the human minds by those who had advanced the technology of awareness. These people were the ancient Rishis or sages. Mathematics, Astronomy and Astrology are interlinked disciplines developed by ancient humans connecting their minds with the laboratory of the universe based on the premise of calculations. 

These categories of knowledge have a direct impact on the material aspect of life in many ways; for example mathematics helped the invention of the piano centring on sound specific calculations. So while mathematics and music could be described as non-material knowledge per se, it influenced a whole range of material based knowledge disciplines. Our computers and phones and all the modern technological gadgets that we use are based on the non-material knowledge sphere of mathematics.

Hence even a cursory contemplation of the word ‘knowledge’ is a mind boggling task, mainly because it begins with the self, understanding of the self, the linking of that understanding with that which is outside of the self and connected with the universe and all that is in it. 

Therefore for the survival of each of us in this brief sojourn called life; (brief in the context of time as an overall entity), we need the correct functioning of our own minds and the universal mind. While the universal mind is a metaphysical and thereby a non-material concept it is linked to how we operate with and in the universe and all that it consists of. 

Of the resources of the universe a key resource that we need to compulsorily use in order to survive is the material resource of the earth. For over four billion years humans in their different stages of evolution have realised diverse technologies to collaborate with the earth to provide us sustenance. 

The earth that we stand on and return to as ashes or human compost nurtures us from birth to death. Each geographical location of the earth is gifted with different plants and medicines that are offered to us on the plate that is planet earth. It is through this primary resource of vegetation and herbs that we have created the modern food industry.

However we are now at a phase where humans have made knowledge a dangerous thing; many aspects of modern knowledge using modern science and technology are more harmful to humans than any body of knowledge has ever been. 

The root of this is a deterioration of the awareness of self; the primary knowledge that is needed for a functional life. Today we do not know the purpose of knowledge because we have forgotten the root of knowledge; which thrives well in an elevated state of mind and which dies rancid in a non-elevated mind. In an elevated mind; correct understanding of self creates a phenomena akin to a vast forest of healthy trees which give shade and provide nutrition in terms of food while the opposite creates deadly contagious fungus that destroys instead of nurturing. However, outwardly a healthy and unhealthy tree could look the same at first glance.

When we look at this modern world and the knowledge therein, it looks at first glance as if this knowledge is our redeemer; as if we need it more and more developed in the exact same manner for our wellbeing. However on closer inspection we could see that this knowledge is a phantom; a dead thing with its soul usurped and which destroys the very thing that it should uphold.

Hence in the times we are in, globally and locally; we should re-examine the original purpose of a particular discipline. For example; the concept of law is to provide justice to all equally and not only to those who have economic or political clout. The knowledge of medicine, whether ancient or modern, is there to heal people and not to maintain illnesses or to create a miserable industry that prospers on human misery. The knowledge of agriculture has been developed from ancient times to now for humans to coexist with the earth and to protect as well as nurture it while going through an infinite process of nurturing humans and humanity. The knowledge of agriculture has never been used, till the current century, to destroy and poison the earth uncontrollably, contributing healthily to the fostering of ill health under the guise of feeding vast populations. 

Hence we can see that the first casualty of modern education is creating the inability to think and not the reverse which we in our unconscious state think is what is occurring in the current education system the world over.

The summary of the above arguments is that knowledge ceases to merit that word if we do not remind ourselves constantly of the holistic purpose of it and think beyond the petty and narrow realm of human survival alone. To think that the survival of humans alone would bring us prosperity is a fallacy which is being proven to be so. Our so-called modern agriculture is killing our bio diversity. This is in turn killing us. Poisoning the earth for the purported reason of helping our survival is killing us because we are consuming poison. 

Unlimited progress in technology, often at the cost of our environment, is supposedly saving us time but we are too busy to learn about ourselves. Yet we call ourselves Buddhists and are quick to preach the theory of the Dhamma without practicing it. 

As we complete nearly half of this year and face innumerable global and local challenges, let us focus primarily on developing the knowledge of self-awareness which we can adapt to suit any particular situation. For example in these times when there are queues for items such as gas or petrol and diesel we could look for ways we could avoid the use of such resources while fulfilling what we need to do. If we need to get from point A to B then we could use public transport. If some of us who are in high positions such as politicians or heads of institutions did this it will help us to see how we can improve our public transport which is how some of the countries we seek loans and aid from constantly improving their transport systems. 

Policy makers, especially those who are tasked with developing the transport system will not know the status of public transport if they do not use it. Hence they will be trying to bring unrealistic solutions or sit trapped in inertia because they do not have any practical knowledge of a sphere they are responsible for. 

Naturally when the Prime Minister or Central Bank chief or political personalities or glamorous artists begin to use public transport, then that nation begins one which encourages saving and the direction of financial resources to a better cause.

Hence, in times we hear many cases of people dying of heart attacks in petrol queues, the wise decision would be to use the bus or train or cycle and walk where possible, shifting to more comfortable shoes and clothes for office wear.

The fetish for expensive cars seems to me the bane of under-developed countries and it is open to conjecture to associate this with the level of development of the mind. 

Knowledge of self will teach us the limits of our resilience and adaptation which is often limitless. Any tendency to lament and curse will create tension within our minds and the wise alternative would be to think, to innovate and to prosper. This should be where we currently direct our minds to and which would be the route for both individuals and the nation to bring about a genuine and authentic system change. System change begins with the self and self-knowledge; the mother of all realms of knowledge.