So what is the meaning of Lao Tzu’s words?
On first reading, they appear to be criticising the search for knowledge, in complete contradiction to our accepted belief in the overwhelming importance of learning and education.
The meaning, however, is more profound and relevant. It is that, through our lifelong conditioning about needing to ‘know’ everything in order to be able to control everything, we fall into the terrible trap of mistaking knowledge for wisdom. This then takes us down a dangerous road. We cram and absorb vast quantities of largely meaningless facts and figures as if these were the key to salvation, happiness and life itself.
This is utterly false! In this process of filling our heads with regurgitated nonsense made worse by social media and misinformation, we lose sight completely of the things that really matter: intuition, imagination, curiosity, creativity, the love of learning, altruism, human warmth, social skills, moral values, emotional intelligence, communication, exercise, health and living life. How many of these do we teach our children?
We need to let go of all those things that clutter our mind with left-brain, linear logic and redirect it to the creation of higher, less cluttered, purpose-based values which give humanity its true meaning, beauty, life, light, freedom and love.
It is with good reason that Einstein said: ‘Imagination is more important than knowledge’
Lao Tzu in this quote, is saying much the same thing!
The Way: Finding Peace in Turbulent Times.