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Writer's pictureThirteen

Knowing is not doing

Knowing is knowing. Knowing is not doing. Doing is doing.


Why so many things we know, and we know we should do, but we don't do? Or the things which we know we should not do, yet we do. It is because there is a difference between knowing and realising.


A child who plays with fire for the first time burns its fingers. Then it knows not to play with fire. But then the child always knew from the parents or elders not to play with fire. It is only now that the child realises it. Now onwards, it will never touch fire. So, it's not about the cognitive process of intellectual understanding. It is not a mental explanation, but it is the visceral realisation. It is a knowing beyond the mind.


Thus, intellectually knowing and understanding the merits and demerits of a specific act or habit has little impact on the final result. Every smoker knows cigarettes kill; everyone who indulges in junk food knows it's not suitable for their health. Knowing does not help. Knowing is a mind game. In contrast, the 'realisation' of something is beyond the mind. Thus, it is beyond the domain of will and choice. The child doesn't use willpower to avoid touching fire. It doesn't exercise the so-called "power to choose."


It is neither about watching yourself or about catching yourself.


'Realisation' is something that happens. It happens when you allow it to happen. It happens when you don't allow your mind to interfere and rationalise. It happens when you viscerally feel the pain of touching the fire. It happens when you see the madness of the mind games and the illusion of desire.


If you allow light, then there is not darkness to fight.

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