Learning Is a Form of Awareness

A simple seeker was studying with intent to learn more about Neo-Confucianism.

“How does it differ from reading?”

“Learning, or seeking to learn something.”

“Intentionality?”

“Yes, and expecting to learn. I’m learning and I’m aware that I have learned something of value to me, if to no other.”

“In such a short time?”

“Yes, and no.”

“Isn’t that my line?”

“If it fits, …”

“Yes. If what we are studying now is built upon a solid foundation of earlier studies, then we can absorb our new learning into an expanded and deepening understanding of earlier studies. Formal education is, or should be, built upon these same principles.”

“Principles?”

“Yes.”

“One step at a time?”

“It doesn’t work that way.”

“How then does it work?”

“Expanding, integrating, and transcendence. How did the concept of transcendence come into your study of Confucianism?”

“Neo-Confucianism.”

“Would Confucius be impressed?”

“He’d be horrified.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Why do you say that? Do you have inside information?”

“Yes. The trinity that you saw (Simple Seeker had visualized an I Ching trinity, or triad, involving the Supreme Ultimate as a force that produced Yin and Yang) may well have developed from your understanding of the Kabbalah, and the Supreme Triad of energies.”

“Isn’t it curious and interesting how it all comes together?”

“What?”

“Knowledge.”

“It can come together if we continue to open to new ideas without letting go of what we have learned in the past.”

“Perhaps, all along the way we need to be aware that what we are now learning may itself become a foundation for future learning.”

“Would you want to reach an end?”

“Is there an end?”

“No. Awareness is knowing that there is no end or boundary to awareness, and in the end, learning is a form of awareness.”

…….

A simple seeker’s note to herself

Learning may be a way to self-awareness.

“How so?”

“I’m aware of learning who I am.”

“When you are what? Learning? Or aware?”

“Are you suggesting …?”

“It’s more than a suggestion. We can’t be aware of not being aware.”

“What about learning?”

“What about it?”

“Can we learn without being aware that we’re learning?”

“At what level?”

“What do you mean?”

“Learning and awareness are not the same activity.”

“How do they differ?”

“Awareness is as vision.”

“And learning?”

“Learning is development of skills and/or information that you might not be consciously aware of.”

“How can we benefit from skills and/or information that we’re not conscious of having absorbed?”

“Absorbed?”

“Yes. In our mind.”

“Our conscious mind?”

“Can we absorb skills and/or information into our unconscious mind?”

“Yes.”

……..