Dear Folks,
Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality. . — Tenzing Gyatso [The Dalai Lama] (1935 – )
Does Dreaming inform Knowledge or does knowledge give substance to your dreams?
Peace,
Jim
DREAMING
Definitions: (1) a state of mind marked by abstraction or release from common reality; reverie; (2) something notable for its beauty, excellence, or enjoyable quality; (3) a strongly desired goal or purpose; (4) something fully satisfying a wish <as an ideal>
Quotes:
If you can dream it, you can do it. — Walt Disney (1901-1966) American Animator
It may be those who do most, dream most. — Stephen Leacock (1869-1944) English-born Canadian Teacher
If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he had imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. — Henry David Thoreau (1817-1872) On Walden Pond
Dream is the personalized myth, myth the depersonalized dream; both myth and dream are symbolic in the same general way of the dynamics of the psyche. But in the dream the forms are quirked by the peculiar troubles of the dreamer whereas in myth the problems and solutions shown are directly valid for all mankind. — Joseph Campbell (1904-1987) The Hero with a Thousand Faces
Parable:
Once, Chong Chou dreamt that he was a butterfly. A butterfly flittering and fluttering around, happy with himself, doing as he pleased. He did not know he was Chong Chou. But then he woke up, and there he was, solid and unmistakably Chong Chou. But he did not know if he was a butterfly dreaming that he was Chong Chou, or Chong Chou who was dreaming that he was a butterfly. Between Chong Chou and the butterfly, there must be some distinction. This is called the transformation of things. — Lao-tse (6th Century bc) Chinese Mystic Philosopher
Reflection:
Dream versus Fact
Include in your dream the decision to do your best with what you’ve got. You’ve still got to look into your future with clarity, hope, faith, and courage but realize these same qualities are keys for doing your best right now. As you are doing your best in the current situation, you are developing those qualities for the realization of your dream future. Without developing the appropriate qualities specific to your ambition, you will not be able to smoothly step into your dream.
There is a natural intuition letting you know if you are capable of actualizing something. Unfortunately, there is a problem. This mechanism gets confused with the constricting reactions of fear. How do you separate your natural, positive knowing from the fear keeping you from moving? First, assess your outer world. As you do, remember and accept you are responsible for now because of your decisions and choices from the past. Know what your current external realities are. Then visualize your ideal future. Draw the curve connecting the now with the future. Compare it to the curve of where your present decisions are taking you. After that assess your inner world, especially your qualities of confidence, self‑esteem, and faith. What qualities are you developing in your current reality? What qualities are needed to let you live your dream?
Comments:
• Don’t miss out on your life. Destiny is always greater than you are at the present time. If you live up to it in your own mind, you will feel complete and satisfied, but only temporarily. There is always more.
• Following your dream doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to make a million dollars. It does mean you are going to strive for what you consider to be your highest ideas and ideals. You may not be successful in the eyes of society if you follow your dream, but if you do what you have decided, you will experience happiness because you have pursued your most enjoyable qualities.
Admonition: It is important to be inspired by your heroes. Yet always remember their dreams were different from yours. Do not berate yourself for not measuring up.
Questions:
• When I look back on my life, will I have accomplished my fondest dreams?
• What will I most be remembered for when I die?
• What will I remembered when I wake up on the other side?
Symbol: a stormy sea
Fictional Figure: The Sleeping Beauty — Charles Perrault (1628-1703)
KNOWLEDGEABLE
Definitions: (1) mentally understood as fact or truth; well‑informed; (2) keen to perceive; intelligent; (3) possessing appreciative insight; apprehending with clarity and certainty; (4) having a memory of or an experience with; solid recognition; (5) aware of or familiar with; having information about; (6) practiced
Synonyms: comprehension, erudite, learned, skillful
Balancing Quality: interested
Familial Qualities: Incisive: penetrating knowledge; insightful: knowledge about the inner nature of things; instinctive: knowledge from a previous generation; intuitive: knowledge without the conscious use of reasoning; perspicuous: an ability to recognize the inner other
Sayings:
Knowledge is power.
Action begets knowledge. Information begets understanding.
Nosce te ipsum (Latin); Gnothi seauton (Greek): “Know thyself.” — Socrates (c. 469-399 bc) Classical Greek Philosopher
Quotes:
The greatest thing in the world is to know how to be oneself. — Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) French Essayist
I was gratified to be able to answer promptly. I said, “I do not know.” — Mark Twain [born Samuel Langhorne Clemens] (1835-1910) American Humorist
[Merlin:] It is never wise to turn aside from knowing, however the knowing comes. — Mary Stewart (1916 – ) The Hollow Hills
Know thyself and thou shall know all the mysteries of the gods and of the universe. — Socrates (c. 429-399 bc) Classical Greek Philosopher
We only get in trouble when we think about it. When we don’t think about it, we know who we are. — Joe Burull (1947 – ) American Photographer
Things are known in the knower after the manner of the knower, not after their own manner of existence. — Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Italian Theologian
When and if we have found and understood the complete irreducible laws of physics, we certainly shall not thereby know the Mind of God. We will not even get much help in understanding the minds of slugs. . . . Instead our position will be like the chess player who has learned the rules of chess, or a would‑be pianist who can now read all the notes. This skeletal knowledge is certainly not enough for skillful play. As we approach such understanding, it is the end of the beginning, not the beginning of the end. — Frank Wilczek (1951 – ) American Theoretical Physicist
Reflection:
The existence of the knowns points to the investigation of the unknowns. We know choice, personality, experience, and all manner of positive qualities do exist. We know by personal experience how living positively is better than living negatively. Positive movement will lead to additional positive action, even in the face of evil.
Although the fact of physical death is a massive mystery, it is not unreasonable to assume we can continue our positive quest beyond the grave. If we do not continue, there would be no reason or value to exist. A nonpersonal, mechanistic universe would have no need for love and its positive ramifications.
Consideration: What do you consider to be the essentials? What do you consider to be most important, and therefore, most valuable? They are our personal, basic, fundamental realities. That’s what you will act on. When you are considering an automobile, there are certain things it must have or you will not buy it. When you are picking friends, a job, a spouse, or a religion, you have certain criteria in mind.
Comments:
• It is important to find a clear certainty in yourself. The mind is intrinsically endowed with the possibility to know and the ability to be knowledgeable. If we do not know that, then all facts and truth are suspect.
• Information is located in books, but knowledge is acquired through an interactive and personal involvement with the information. A thing must be experienced, oftentimes repeatedly, before it becomes part of our inner knowing. Even then some things cannot be retained without continued practice.
Admonition: See yourself through other people’s eyes. If you know what it is that other people appreciate about you, whether it is your natural or acquired qualities, then you can enhance those qualities.
Colors: violet, yellow
Symbols: 1) the Tree of Knowledge; 2) a rolled papyrus scroll
Structure:
Types of Knowing
1) Memories:
a) highlighted: induced by smells, tastes, sound, sight, or touch
b) vivid: set by high value, focused by repetition, stressed by strong emotion
c) partial: faded by time, clouded by feelings, adjusted by desire, replaced by other memories
2) Experiences: past, present, or future
3) Dreams: day‑dreams, imagination, wishful thinking, reflections, guesses
4) Presentations: reading material, movies, plays, television
5) Convictions: the visualization of a goal completed
6) Associations: images that look like or remind you of other images, i.e., Rorschach ink blots, clouds
Consider the Source
