“Knowing via Being” is a philosophical concept that suggests that true knowledge can only be attained through direct experience or immersion in a subject. This idea contrasts with traditional forms of knowledge acquisition, such as reading books or being taught by a teacher, which rely on second-hand information.
Being is an important part of knowing and understanding the world around us that is beyond intellectual knowledge and book-learning. It involves the use of our senses, such as sight, sound, smell and taste, to experience the environment. This helps us to build an understanding of the physical and natural world, as well as our own emotions and responses to situations. Being also allows us to gain insight into the customs, norms and beliefs of different cultures, which can help us to make informed decisions when interacting with people from different backgrounds. Moreover, being is essential for developing our intuition and creativity, which can help us to come up with innovative solutions to problems. All in all, being plays an important role in our ability to know and understand the world around us and it is particularly important regarding spiritual awakening.
Proponents of what is also called “Being Understanding”, argue that direct experience is necessary for a deep understanding of a subject. For example, a musician who has spent years practising and performing will have a deeper understanding of music than someone who has only read about it in a book. Similarly, a scientist who has spent years conducting research in a lab will have a deeper understanding of their field than someone who has only read about it in a textbook.
The same is true for many areas of knowledge. For example, in philosophy, a student who has spent time reflecting on and discussing the ideas of various thinkers will have a far deeper understanding of the subject than someone who has only read about it in a book. Similarly, a student of history who has visited the places they are studying and spoken to people who have lived through the events they are researching will have a far deeper understanding than someone who has only read about it in a textbook.
This way of knowing is also applicable to our everyday lives. We often gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our relationships with others through direct experience. This can be a result of spending time with people, travelling to new places, and reflecting on our past. We gain a far deeper understanding of our lives through direct experience than we ever could from reading a book.
This knowing can also be applied to personal growth and self-discovery. Many spiritual and self-help teachings emphasize the importance of direct experience in understanding oneself and the world around us. For example, meditation practices are often used to help individuals gain a deeper understanding of their thoughts and emotions through direct observation and introspection.
However, it should be noted that this way of knowing does not mean that other forms of knowledge acquisition, such as reading and being taught, are unimportant. These methods can provide valuable information and context that can supplement direct experience. Additionally, direct experience alone may not be sufficient for certain fields such as mathematics, history, and theoretical physics, where the knowledge is based more on logical reasoning and abstract concepts.
So, what is ‘Knowing via Being?’
In this light,”Knowing via Being” is a philosophical concept that suggests that true knowledge can only be attained through direct experience or immersion in a subject. While it is important to supplement this knowledge with other forms of knowledge acquisition, direct experience can provide a deeper understanding of a subject and personal growth.
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