June 26, 2021

Knowledge and Life

The information gained through education and experience is called as "Knowledge". Science is organised knowledge. Wisdom is organised life.' This is what I noticed written on the wall of a school.


Generally, many people think that learning or education stops once they come out of the college and take up a job or profession. It is not the correct way of leading the life. Leaders in any field are the great learners. That is why we find stacks of books kept  in their premises. Learning is an everyday process. Because, the world we live is fast growing with the latest techniques and devices. Especially, the professionals like Doctors, Engineers, etc.. need to update their knowledge as newer discoveries are made and advanced methods are introduced in their fields. Even a Barber has to install and adopt the latest to attract the customers to his saloon. 


The immense value of knowledge is aptly stated in the Tamil proverb 'A Knowledgeable person is respected wherever he goes.' Possession of varied knowledge empowers a person in many ways. For instance, knowledge of languages facilitates fluent and easy communication with the people of a terrain. In case of exigency, we can repair a car if we have the knowledge of its system. We do not lose anything: instead, stand to gain many advantages. What we learnt so far measures the size of our palm, but what remains to be learnt equals the size of World.


There are many ways and sources from which you can get this knowledge. Books, Electronic media like TV, Videos, Computer,etc.. But the most important source of our times is the Internet. It's not suffice to learn but one should develop clarity in that whatever he learnt, and should be able to apply and abide by that. 'Learn clearly without mistakes. Live by it whatever be the stakes' is what the Tamil classic poetry 'Thirukkural' advocated more than a millennium years ago.


The level of knowledge makes a marked difference among the people. Usually an ignorant person tries to show off much like an empty vessel making loud noise. Persons with Half knowledge tend to speak loud as if to display their skill but end up with ambiguity and shame. Half knowledge always waits to give free advice without asking and the takers become it's victim. However, learned people stay humble and never grumble. A person may be knowledgeable but of what use if he cannot conduct himself  for a practical and happy life. One who learns to actually swim in the water will have confidence and courage to swim when an emergency arises. 


Wisdom is innate and cannot be taught. Knowledge or science is sourced from outside and can be learned by practice and observation. The former succeeds even in the absence of the latter. Wisdom guides the life spiritually whereas knowledge helps to live the life physically.