This Week's Quotation:
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free
~ John 8:32
Knowing Versus Knowing About
Life is Radiance
In this statement to a group of Jews who were open to receiving his wisdom, Jesus did not say “And ye shall know about the truth and this knowledge shall make you free.” Knowledge about the external world and how to do things in that world does not yield authentic spirituality. And yet human beings universally mistake this kind of knowledge—theories, scientific studies, historical facts, etc.—i.e. knowledge unearthed by the human mind, for the kind of knowing essential to a life filled with meaning and purpose.
When I graduated with a string of degrees after seven years of college and university it occurred to me as I drove back from New Jersey to Colorado that, although I had a tremendous fund of knowledge about many things, I didn’t really know anything! I knew nothing about the real meaning and purpose of life or what I was on earth to do.
And so the next three years were years of chaos. At first I joined the revolutionary left, even becoming a communist. Then, associating with a weird assortment of dropouts and misfits, I catapulted through a wild episode of psychedelic drug use and masquerading as a hippie. All of this was basically a search to unearth my own identity.
Finally, after a series of amazing coincidences, I came in contact with a community of people who not only knew about many things but gave me the indelible impression that they knew how to live, what life on earth is for and how to cooperate with its creative purpose. Their lives were governed by one foundational principle: “You only know what you express.”
Expressing the highest and finest qualities of character in living you come to know the truth of who you are: an extraordinary being grounded in love with a multitude of gifts to bring into artistic form on earth. Or as the bumper sticker reads: “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience but spiritual beings having a human experience.” Knowing this truth has indeed set me free.
About Open Windows
We, the authors of this blog, dedicate it to the transparent exploration of the world’s sacred scripture and enlightened spiritual thought. We believe that the original inspiration of all faiths comes from a common source, named and revered in a myriad of ways. With that understanding, the innumerable symbols, beliefs, and practices of faith cease to divide. They become open windows to a common reality that inspires and unifies us. We find deeper insight and nourishment in our own faith and from the expression of faith from others.
We hope these weekly quotations and meditations speak to your heart and soul.
6 Responses
This meditation certainly does speak to my heart and soul! Thank you Jerry!
YES! This is the type of freedom that go so far beyond political freedom and takes ne’s life up several levels. THANKS so much, Jerry WITH YOU. Tom
Thank you, Jerry! Well said!
Thank you Jerry for your inside on this. quotation. Yes, we only know what we express . I was thinking of what my father who never went to school offered to his community. He has years of experiences and could share that with his friends. I deeply appreciate what our spiritual mentors offered to me for over forty years but their offerings only mean something because I let that be exemplified in my living. Let’s keep expressing our highest love in all we do.
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Jerry – it is a deep blessing knowing you and working with you…..thank you.
Beautiful expression of truth and “knowing”.