from Verse Seventy-SixTo know by hearing is sagehood, to know by seeing is wisdom. Therefore sages always hear where calamity and fortune arise in order to choose their paths; the wise always see how calamity and fortune take shape in order to choose their acts.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~
When I read this passage the first time, I understood it to be talking about two aspects of the same thing -- the ability of the wise sage to foretell calamity and fortune before they came upon them. By embracing the Way, such individuals know intuitively the flow of life.
However, the more I pondered the meaning of the passage, the more I believe that the two aspects are distinct and that sagehood is a step beyond sagacity.
The ability to understand variables and circumstances without seeing them before us is a laudable trait. It's as if we can know the beauty of a waterfall simply by hearing the roar of the water or the temperature on a fine spring day by simply listening to the breeze. It is the ability to understand how things will unfold without having all the tangible evidence laid before us.
The next step down is having the ability to see things far off in the distance. The sun may look nebulous on the horizon, but the sagacious person can utilize this limited information to understand how things will play out. It is a step down simply because it lacks full intuition; we need more observable information to come to the same conclusion as the sage.
Of course, most of us can neither hear nor see things before they are staring us in the face! We go running down a path at breakneck speed ignoring all the warning signs that trouble lies ahead. It is only when we land in a thicket of brambles that we come understand what the sage and the wise knew long before.
Sometimes, we can stare at calamity or fortune and we still can't hear or see it! We're so blinded by our egos that nothing will allow us to see what is smack dab in front of our faces.
However, the more I pondered the meaning of the passage, the more I believe that the two aspects are distinct and that sagehood is a step beyond sagacity.
The ability to understand variables and circumstances without seeing them before us is a laudable trait. It's as if we can know the beauty of a waterfall simply by hearing the roar of the water or the temperature on a fine spring day by simply listening to the breeze. It is the ability to understand how things will unfold without having all the tangible evidence laid before us.
The next step down is having the ability to see things far off in the distance. The sun may look nebulous on the horizon, but the sagacious person can utilize this limited information to understand how things will play out. It is a step down simply because it lacks full intuition; we need more observable information to come to the same conclusion as the sage.
Of course, most of us can neither hear nor see things before they are staring us in the face! We go running down a path at breakneck speed ignoring all the warning signs that trouble lies ahead. It is only when we land in a thicket of brambles that we come understand what the sage and the wise knew long before.
Sometimes, we can stare at calamity or fortune and we still can't hear or see it! We're so blinded by our egos that nothing will allow us to see what is smack dab in front of our faces.
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
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