He Who Accumulates Cannot Learn
It seems that communion is a very difficult art. To commune with one another over the many problems that we have requires listening and learning, which are both very difficult to do. Most of us hardly listen, and we hardly learn. To commune with each other, which is what these meetings are intended for, requires a certain capacity, a certain way of listening - not merely to gather information, which any schoolboy can do, but rather listening in order to understand. […]
It seems to me of the utmost importance that we do listen in order to learn. Learning is not merely the accumulation of knowledge. Knowledge never brings perception; experience never flowers into the beauty of understanding. Most of us listen with the background of what we know, of what we have experienced. Perhaps you have never noticed the difference between the mind that really learns and the mind that merely accumulates, gathers knowledge. The mind that is accumulating knowledge never learns. It is always translating what it hears in terms of its own experience, in terms of the knowledge which it has gathered; it is caught up in the process of accumulating, of adding to what it already knows, and such a mind is incapable of learning. I do not know if you have noticed this. [...] So it seems to me very important that we commune with each other quietly, in a dignified manner, and for that there must be a listening and a learning.
When you commune with your own heart, when you commune with your friend, when you commune with the skies, with the stars, with the sunset, with a flower, then surely you are listening so as to find out, to learn - which does not mean that you accept or deny. You are learning, and either acceptance or denial of what is being said puts an end to learning. When you commune with the sunset, with a friend, with your wife, with your child, you do not criticize, you do not deny or assert, translate or identify. You are communing, you are learning, you are searching out. From this inquiry comes the movement of learning, which is never accumulative.
I think it is important to understand that a man who accumulates can never learn. Self-learning implies a fresh, eager mind - a mind that is not committed, a mind that does not belong to anything, that is not limited to any particular field. It is only such a mind that learns.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you understand the difference between learning and accumulating knowledge? Can you share a personal story that illustrates this difference? How can we make the shift from accumulating to learning?
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21 Past Reflections
On Jun 6, 2023 Duryodhan Behera wrote :
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On Apr 9, 2013 Marie Brozova wrote :
1 reply: Tamxao | Post Your Reply
On Apr 3, 2013 Pratibha wrote :
After accumulating, whether material or knowledge, one should share. this benefits both giver and receiver.
2 replies: Carol, Thierry | Post Your Reply
On Apr 3, 2013 Amin wrote :
The last time I was reminded that drama is originally a sacred art is when I saw an interpretation of Shakespeare's King Lear by a troup of Kathakali actor's twenty years ago. I then realized what extraordinary demand was put on these actors and their immense capacity of impersonation. Prior to this experience I had the opportunity to see actual communion between these extraordinary actors and their Indian public. At the end of the representation there were no applause but something like great fervor emanated from the audience.
This is beautiful. But what other sort of drama am I playing on myself when I confuse accumulation of knowledge with learning. When I confuse practical knowledge with the problematic 'knowledge' I have accumulated about myself and 'others'. Does holding on to that knowledge give me the illusion of psychological security? So I am on my toes. I don't sit back and say 'Allelujha', I know all about Truth!
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On Apr 2, 2013 aj wrote :
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On Apr 2, 2013 gayathri wrote :
per my understanding...first comes experience then learning happens (conditions apply..:)) and then knowledge takes birth. i am unable to understand Jiddu's view when he says - he who accumulates cannot learn. i believe that one can accumulate 'information' but not 'knowledge'. knowledge is something like the elements - air, water, light....none can accumulate these elements. because knowledge is something that happens through experience and learning therefrom....it is something personal and of course it gets impersonalized the moment it is put into some form....say a writing, theory, book etc...now this becomes information which then could be accumulated sans the joy!
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On Apr 2, 2013 Bronwyn wrote :
For me, this sums up the importance of being present. For when we are present, we are listening and learning, and not thinking ahead about our contribution
1 reply: Kannan | Post Your Reply
On Apr 2, 2013 smile wrote :
The passage is very important for me, as I consider that I need to learn a lot in communication skills. Few points from the passage were eye openers, as I didn't realize that trying to accumulate and gain, is creating a problem to my learning and listening. Open minded learning is like a child learns , extremely fast, profound and in huge quantity.
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On Apr 2, 2013 Thierry wrote :
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On Mar 31, 2013 a wrote :
When I think of "accumulating" (gathering things up/to collect/amass) I think of "clutter". To "clutter" up a mind is to keep it from learning. Since my brain has a "limited capacity", I need to keep it simple/clean/uncluttered. What knowledge I absolutely have to have, "I store". What remains (storage), I like to keep fluid. Life/people/things, from one moment to another, change/move/grow . . . I want the ability to flow with it (learn).
Sweet read . . . I'll get back to this!
Always Love
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On Mar 31, 2013 david doane wrote :
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On Mar 30, 2013 T wrote :
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On Mar 28, 2013 navinsata wrote :
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