How To Cultivate Knowledge and Wisdom
Build something that builds something.
The more I’ve thought about Knowledge and Wisdom, the more I’ve realized that they’re about building something that builds something.
As humans, we have many instruments at our disposal: our bodies and minds, objects, systems. Healthy bodies and minds, for instance, take better care of others and inspire others to take better care of themselves. A well produced body of music brings people together and generate new relationships. A thoughtful idea can form the base of a transformative movement, inspiring change and progress in society.
Why and where we build goes back to the virtue of Love and Kindness, but how and what we build is where the strengths of intelligence come into play. That intelligence, whether embodied, cognitive, or artistic, depends on creativity to bring things into being, curiosity to pursue those things, and open-mindedness to bring to light that which our more stubborn and selfish selves would rather leave in the dark.
To truly harness the strengths of Knowledge and Wisdom, focus on building something that builds something. Be smart about it; ensure your methods are well built so that effort doesn’t fall through the cracks. And, most importantly, let love guide you to ensure you’re building in the right direction.
Creativity
We are creatures, a term derived from the Latin creare, meaning to bring into being. We were brought into this world to bring more into this world. To be creative is to fulfill our purpose. To be creative is essential to what it means to live.
Yet, many of us get caught in purely consumptive modes. Living in a period of abundance, everything seems to already be created for us. Instead of creating our own stories, we consume the stories of others. Instead of making meals, we buy them ready-made. Instead of taking genuine care of our health, we use products that artificially enhance health and appearance. There’s a reason why the archetype of the zombie, a mindlessly hungry drone, has gained popularity in the past few decades. Overconsumption comes easy, but leads nowhere. Tragic and scary.
To come alive, we need to create. And to create, we must recognize the value of creation. And since creating is hard, we also need something worth fighting for. So, find out what that is, be brave, and take the leap. Dive into the turbulence of life and find creative ways to ride the updrafts to new heights.
Create and come to life.
Prompts
When was the last time I created something?
When was the last time I played or had to innovate to solve a problem?
Was I brought into this world to bring more into it?
Practices
Engage in a creative pursuit. Paint, write, make music, garden. Be generative. Bring things into being.
Make your meals.
Unplug. Get bored. Let your mind unravel.
Curiosity
Like creativity, curiosity is generative. More precisely, curiosity is a precondition to creativity. It calls to us. This calling is scary and exciting, because we don’t exactly know what we’ll find. If we did know, we wouldn’t be curious.
As we learn, we gain the competence and confidence to explore more of what’s ahead. Exploration reveals more unknowns until our anxiety halts us. Calming this anxiety requires reducing our uncertainty by learning what is unknown, which requires examination. Sufficient examination calms our anxiety so we can get back to exploring. Growth demands both exploration and examination.
Be wary not to mistake pleasure and novelty for curiosity. There are no shortage of forces out there keen on manipulating you to extract your generative energy, to pull your attention away from what matters to you towards what matters to them.
Authentic callings are timid and humble, not tempting and brazen. Slow down. Take a deep breath. Pay attention, break free from the noise, and follow your heart.
Prompts
What genuinely interests me? Do I spend time pursuing curiosities or seeking novelty and pleasure?
When was the last time I explored something new?
When was the last time I examined something in considerable depth?
Practices
Consume long form content (books, documentaries, walks in the park, etc.)
Turn off notifications. Pursue curiosity, not just novelty.
Avoid self-involvement. Can’t take interest in your environment if all you’re interested in is yourself.
Open-mindedness
The story of the south Indian monkey trap provides a nice analogy of what can happen when we stubbornly cling to unquestioned values.
A small slit is cut into a coconut, large enough for a hand to slip through but too thin for a fist. The coconut is then filled with rice and secured to a pole. Later, a wandering monkey sees the coconut filled with rice. Score! He slips his hand in, grabs a handful of rice, but…wait a minute…he can’t pull his hand out! Villagers close in and surround the monkey as he desperately tries to escape, but he just can’t seem to let go of the rice.
When we rigidly cling to thoughts or values that hinder our development or ability to connect with others, we behave like the poor monkey as the walls…of our mind…close in…just like the impending swarm of villagers.
Opening our minds doesn’t mean we accept every opinion, but it at least opens the door to a fair consideration of their potential (or lack thereof). The alternative is to stay rigid in thought, which leaves us stuck in the examination mode of curiosity. With a closed mind, we eventually examine everything and think we have it all figured out. Close-mindedness closes the door on any chance of meaningful progress, leading to degeneration.
Progress requires a mind that can explore—a mind that is open.
Prompts
When was the last time I changed my mind?
Am I seeking truth or comfort?
When I lack understanding, do I change my thoughts to better fit the circumstance, or cognitively distort the circumstance to better fit my thoughts?
Is disagreement a bad thing? Or is it a fundamental path to knowing?
Practices
Consume a diverse information diet. Understand what you agree with and disagree with.
Resist the simplifying urge to view a single perspective as correct. Consider various perspectives and understand where they converge and diverge.
Love. Opening your mind requires opening your heart.
If you have questions you ask yourself or practices you engage with that you find work well, I’d love to hear about them. Feel free to let me know in the comments.