Ever wondered, the meaning of knowledge? The dictionary says it means the body of truths or facts accumulated in the course of time. Putting it simple, knowledge is whatever you have learnt, interpreted and stored, so that you can fetch it for usage, later. Rather for better usage. Knowledge is accumulated over a period of time. It never arrives at one go. You face many challenges to accumulate and retain this knowledge.
Let’s try to understand it with some fancy imaginations.
Our mind is like a bucket, which is filled with water. Our mind consists of knowledge. Here, knowledge denotes the water. We use water for daily purposes, similarly we use our mind for that matter knowledge to take various decisions in our day-to-day life. Knowledge is like water, it keeps you alive, gives you energy, and quenches your thirst of “knowing”, very much similar to knowledge. Your knowledge talks about you. You are recognized by the knowledge you possess. I believe, more knowledge, more understanding, better solutions. Sounds like, the more water you drink, more you replenish your body, more healthy you get? Correct. Therefore, Knowledge = Water.
Now, if the water is mixed with dirt, it will be of no use. Not for drinking, neither for washing clothes nor utensils. Still, if you use it, your clothes will be stained inspite of a wash, and your utensils will be soiled inspite of rinsing, or on consumption your health may suffer. The “dirt” I am talking here denotes/represents the bad emotions like grudges, selfishness, jealousy, malice, anger, bias, etc. All this “dirt” mixed with the knowledge is present inside your head. You can hardly take a rational decision when your knowledge contains such impurities.When you are driven by that “bad emotion” like anger or grudge, the water in your bucket is being stirred by a stirrer. You are riding on this bad emotion. The stirrer’s action denotes the riding action of the emotion. The stirrer mixes the knowledge with dirt, vigorously, to prepare a toxic concoction. Result. “polluted” knowledge. Remember the perils of using dirty water? Using this “polluted” knowledge, you won’t be able to make right decisions. Is there a way out? YES. Do not ride on the emotion. Be calm. Let the water settle. What happens when the water in the bucket is kept still for sometime? All the dirt settles at the bottom of the bucket. At this time you can access the upper layer of water which is free of dirt! Similarly, you must remain still when life throws those bad emotions at you. Be stable and then take a decision. Because the upper layer i.e. pure knowledge can be accessed only when your mind is calm and still.
Next, more important aspect. Knowledge management. Water will remain useful only if it keeps flowing. The flowing action denotes that it is “alive”. If it stops flowing, it stagnates. It becomes a breeding ground for dirt & insects to habituate. You will be reluctant to use such water. A good example, have you seen those ponds filled with water, the green bacteria floating on it? Using such water will add to your problems instead of solving them. Rather I will most likely use river water, which is flowing. Polluted water equals to polluted knowledge revisited! Knowledge must not be restricted from flowing. If it stagnates, it will rot. Our human body also cannot accumulate water for a longer time; we need to overhaul ourselves by drinking water and subsequently releasing it. We all agree for a good health we need to do that. Remember the advice given by our parents during our childhood “Don’t tell/teach this thing to your friend else he will get ahead of you” this would be the only parents’ advice, I would ask you to give up. Go share and increase your knowledge and take better decisions.
