Attaining Wisdom: A Sunday Challenge

How does one attain wisdom? It is obviously a most important element to individual and collective success. It is also painfully obvious of its lack in the "House Divided" mentality so evident today.

So, I pose the question again...

How does one attain wisdom? (pause to reflect on that)

According to Confucius, who I believe will be widely accepted as an expert on this subject, had the following suggestion. I will break it down into its three elements, or three methods as Confucius said:

REFLECTION

"First by reflection, which is noblest." Why is reflection the noblest way to attain wisdom? Is it because deep down in our soul, or human consciousness if you prefer, the answers lye hidden in a mystic pool ready to be hooked and pulled to the surface? Is it simply in the "taking time" that we gain wisdom by not acting or reacting negatively? How often do you reflect? What is reflection for you? How do you reflect?

IMITATION

"Second, by imitation, which is easiest." Why is imitation easiest? If you imitate a thought do you become that thought? If I'm sad but decide to imitate being happy, do I become happy? Is it like imitating the answers on an exam from the genius sitting across from you in class...or is that cheating? Is imitating life actually cheating life? How do you imitate? Who do you imitate? Why do you imitate?

EXPERIENCE

"Third, by experience, which is the bitterest." Ah, the good ole' School of Hard Knocks. Nothing gives you wisdom quicker and more painfully than learning from your mistakes, which in effect is experience. Granted, you can learn from the experience of success...but the really good experiences are the bitterest. I call them the Post Its of the Soul...Battle Scars! Why is experience the bitterest? What has been your bitterest experience that has brought you into the light of Wisdom?

For me, I will go and reflect, then imitate my vision and gain experience from Endeavoring to Engage with myself and the world and people around me.

So, there you have it class, your homework for this Sunday. Class dismissed. You must post your answers in the comments to pass.

Sir Hook the Professor of Wisdom of Warrick

Just another day...

Just another day...
Originally uploaded by Lost in Scotland

Woke up to a wet, cold autumn day here in central Illinois. I like this weather but lets just say, it isn't Glasgow or Scotland. The two here, this type of weather and the location, just don't quite fit together.

Friday doesn't seem to hold that magic much any more with all the stuff I need to do on my large to-do list. At least I get to sleep in a bit on Friday, due to not having any office hours. But yet, there is something that is missing. At this time, overwhelmed by school and students, I miss the easy going atmosphere of Europe. I miss the long lunches and opportunity to socialize like they do. Here it is rush, rush, rush. I eat at my desk most days and I know I could make the excuse to get up, off my duff and go outside or somewhere else, but lunch time usually rolls around office hours.

The American lifestyle has its advantages but I think we have lost the sight of what it truly means to be a global community. Humans crave social contact. We must debate the issues and set the worlds to rights. I think our high incidence of health issues would decrease if we took on some of our European brethren philosophies.

Me in Glasgow for Graduation

Two summers ago when I was back in Glasgow for my graduation, I relished the time with my friends. I relished the moments I could take out of that busy time to just sit with them and talk, talk. The last day, I spent at Babbity Bowster for one last meal. I showed you a picture in an earlier post; the one of haggis, neeps and tatties. I promised myself to take my time and just soak up the moment. I alternated reading John Steinbeck and writing in my moleskine, when a group entered. I recognized some from Strathclyde and they took the table opposite me, across the room. They were from the physics department, probably graduate students. I caught snippets of their initial conversation, about the post-graduate experience.

I had to laugh. Here at this moment, I had reached the last strides of my own experience. I had obtained my PhD and was starting afresh back in the States. And yet, my gut ached and hot tears threatened my cheeks. I felt that familiar constriction of my throat when deep pangs of emotion grip you. I took a sip of my cola to temper down the rising ache. I sat and listened to them for two and half hours. I was vicariously lifted on their journey to the realms of quantum physics and other Einstein theorems. Some I understood, some I didn't. But I felt as if I was to the stars and back.

I left them there sitting before the peat fire, still debating the spiritual and the science. As I drifted back towards George Square, I took my time to walk through the streets I had walked on those first few days here in Glasgow. Snippets of conversations and visual images ran through my mind. The cabbie that told me, upon seeing my teddy bear with its green and blue rugby shirt and dropping me off not too far from the Babbity at the student dorms, "Lassie you'll have to make a decision." He was referring to diplomatic nature of my teddy's apparel and its obvious attention to Celtic and Rangers footie. I laughed and, knowing that Scots love a good shot back, "How do you know I didn't do that on purpose because sometimes you can't get too much of a good thing." He laughed and I followed suit.

Corinthian by Lost in Scotland/Lady Delanie

I made my way back through Merchant Square and then down to the Corinthian. I slowly walked toward the Art Museum and the statue of Nelson, capped by the cone bandits. I skitted past Costa coffee house, tempted to stop for one last coffee. I stopped and breathed when my footfall fell on the pavement of Buchannan Street. I looked one way and then another. I stopped and listened. I breathed.

David Gray's "From here you can almost see the sea", is playing right now on my iPod touch and those images of Scotland are dissipating into the mist of my mind, for the time being. I have walked along a great deal of Scotland and this country but no where, have I smelled, tasted, and felt the journey than on those bonnie shores.

More later....I have to return to grading papers and get ready for lectures.

That time of year...

Haggis, Neeps and Tatties with Moleskine, Steinbeck at the Babbity Bowster
Originally uploaded by Lost in Scotland

Here in central Illinois the weather has finally reached a point where I can venture out without experience the hot, humid and sticky of summer. I love the autumn. I love the fact that we are heading into the cold, crisp days of winter. It is time to think of comfort food and nice hot drinks. I long for the fare of Scotland most at this time and proudly look to my wall display of Scottish recipes. I dig out the Scottish cookbook (wait a minute, why didn't I have this open all year round--stupid git, eejit). Its time to dust the cobwebs off the clay cooking pots.

I miss Scotland terribly right now. The sun is setting at 3pm now and footie is in high gear. People are spending more time in the pub, enjoying the roaring fires, good times and food.

DSC00002
Originally uploaded by mickthefiddler

The music seems more vibrant and lively. I used to love going into the pubs in various parts. I loved it when man and beast took up their place at the bar. I remember one time in small town between Aryshire and Kilmarnock, when an older gent walked in with his two lovely Brittany Spanials, settling at the bar. The dogs trotted over to the peat fire and nestled down for the night. Pub life in Scotland is a way of living. To be savored and cherished. You forget that there is tv or any other form of entertainment. You can live there for hours and learn what it is to live.

Now is the time for Haggis, Neeps and Tatties, for steak bakes and venison stew, for grouse in clay pots and anything salmon. And to wash it down, cider or my favorite lager. Half pint will do.