“Knowledge is power” is a strong mantra in contemporary culture. It can instill confidence in an impermanent world, whether knowledge is based on science, religion, spirituality, or any other belief system.
It seems to provide hope amidst the jungle of the unknown, offering apparent certainty, control, and predictability. “Knowledge” forms the foundation of rules, laws, created structures, and observed patterns.
The belief in “knowledge” is potent. Some call it “facts”, others refer to it as “intuition”. It can stem from education, observation, reason, or experience – anything that gives a strong sense of comprehension, from mundane observations and experiences to mystical awakenings and enlightenment. “Eureka!”, “I got it!”, “This is it!”
It appears that knowledge can be acquired through learning, studying, practice, and experience, suggesting that it is something we can actively pursue.
However, all knowledge is an interpretation of perception processed in the brain. It aligns with conditioned beliefs and cultural systems, which can shift over time.
Knowledge is volatile and impermanent; today’s truth might be tomorrow’s falsehood. It is part of the mind’s survival mechanism, navigating the unknown and creating mental paths that may crumble as we tread upon them.
As it dawns that there may ultimately be nothing to truly know, it becomes apparent that the mind and all its creations are rooted in confusion. The confusion lies in assuming that something solid, comprehensible and meaningful exists within the seamless stream of appearances and sensations, akin to building permanent sandcastles on the shifting sands of the unknown.