We are the stories we tell ourselves – I am a victim I am a survivor I am an artist I am an athlete I am sufferer I am a caregiver I am a rebel Once we choose the story The story shapes us. Let’s choose the story We want to be shaped into. Wisdom Is – To know which story to choose
Compounding: They call it the 8th wonder of the world. What we invest today compounds over time To become something much bigger later. Self Knowledge also compounds We don’t just accumulate insights We accumulate insights over insights. Self Inquiry when practised Compounds in effect over time. The journey inward is not linear. It’s exponential. Wisdom Is – Practice. Practice. Practice.
I experience thought Hence, I am not the thought I experience desires Hence, I am not the desire I experience fear Hence, I am not my fear I experience my senses Hence, I am not the senses Who is the “I” that experiences the experience Of senses, thought, need, fear? If these are experiences, Who is the experiencer? Wisdom Is – Experiencing the I — That Experiences
Umwelt — roughly refers to the subjective experience of a particular organism. Humans sense and feel things differently than, say, cats. Cats can sense things that humans can’t. The fact that our bodies and minds are not programmed to sense something doesn’t mean that the thing doesn’t exist. It just means that the thing wasn’t historically needed for our survival. Our senses are incomplete maps of reality. Few amongst us – Sense the Self. They become Self -Aware. They are called Mystics. Wisdom Is – The Mystic’s Umwelt
Silence Not the gap between two sounds. Not the absence of noise. Silence That’s absolute. Above sound and quiet. Beyond the buzzing of thought. Serene. Content. Still. Silence Observing all movement. Yet not participating in it. Silence Like the movie screen, which stays still As the movies play on it. Wisdom is – That silence. That Ecstasy.
If we can observe the body, We are not the body. So, who is the observer of the body? If we can observe our senses, We are not our senses. So, who is the observer of the senses? If we can observe our thoughts, We are not the thoughts. So, who is the observer of thoughts? There is a Subject – Observing objects such as Body, senses and thoughts… Meditation is an act of meeting That observer that witnesses everything Wisdom Is – Witnessing the Witnesser.
Lao Tzu said – The Tao that can be told is not the Eternal Tao. St.Thomas Aquinas starts Summa Theologica with – Since we cannot know what God is, but only what God is not, we cannot consider how God is but only how He is not. In the Vedas, God is explained as – Neti, Neti (Not that, Not that) Transcendence can’t be explained by the mind. It can only be experienced by the Self. Hence, the language of transcendence is — Silence. It can only be known by itself. Wisdom Is – Silent Awareness.
A teacher asked a class of first graders – “What is the colour of apples?” Most of the children answered — red. A few said — green. One child raised her hand and said — WHITE. The teacher tried to explain that apples came in many colours but not white. The child was insistent and finally said – “Look inside.” So, what is the colour of Human? Perception keeps us on the surface of things, and we often miss other levels of reality. Wisdom Is – Looking Inside.
A great definition of happiness comes from Naval Ravikant: Happiness is peace in motion. Peace is happiness at rest. The quote is not about happiness. It is about peace. The search for happiness can itself be source of anxiety. When we search for it, we tell ourselves- I don’t have it. Where do we find peace? Perhaps — Not in our thoughts. Not in our minds. Great masters and philosophers point at one thing – Peace appears when we observe the mind (in suffering & joy) And – Accept What Is. Wisdom Is – To find a quiet space outside
Question: How spiritual am I? Here’s a possible method of measuring. On a scale of 1–10: In the face of everyday turmoil How tranquil am I? In a world that people take too seriously How playful am I? As I live on a roller coaster of ups and downs How equanimous am I? When I have the choice of being indifferent How compassionate am I? In an increasingly divisive world How unitive am I? Against the backdrop of noise How Silent Am I? Wisdom Is – To be Spiritually Work-In-Progress
