The Wisdom Way of Knowing

1. Wisdom is a State-Dependent Way of Knowing

"As one's level of being increases, receptivity to higher meaning increases. As one's being decreases, the old meanings return."

Beyond intellect. Wisdom isn't just about accumulating knowledge; it's a way of perceiving that requires a specific state of being. It's not enough to simply understand concepts intellectually; one must embody them. This means that our capacity to grasp deeper truths is directly linked to our inner state.

Level of being. The book uses the metaphor of Peter walking on water to illustrate this point. When Peter's heart was focused on Jesus, he could transcend the laws of physics. But when fear took over, he sank. This highlights that our level of being—our inner state of balance and awareness—determines our ability to access wisdom.

• Higher being = higher receptivity
• Lower being = return to old meanings

Holistic approach. Wisdom requires the integration of mind, body, and heart. It's not solely a mental exercise but a holistic transformation that involves our entire being. This is why practices like meditation, physical work, and sacred chanting are essential components of the Wisdom path.

2. The West Lost Its Wisdom Through Doctrinal Shifts

"God became man in order that man might become God."

Shifting focus. The Christian West gradually lost its grasp on the Wisdom tradition by shifting its focus from direct, participative knowing to vicarious knowledge mediated through doctrine. The early church emphasized personal transformation and direct experience of the divine, but over time, this was replaced by a focus on believing the right things about Jesus.

Original Sin. The doctrine of Original Sin, solidified by Augustine, further cemented this shift. It posited that human nature is inherently corrupt, making personal transformation impossible without divine intervention. This undermined the idea of theosis—the divinization of the human person—which was central to the early Christian understanding of the spiritual journey.

• Emphasis on belief over experience
• Loss of the vision of theosis

Underground stream. As a result, the Wisdom tradition went underground in the West, preserved in esoteric circles and monastic communities. While the practices were maintained, the cosmological understanding that gave them meaning was largely lost. This led to a disconnect between the practical tools of transformation and the deeper vision of human purpose.

3. Three Centers of Knowing: Mind, Body, and Heart

"We have subtle subconscious faculties we are not using."

Three-centered being. The Wisdom tradition views the human being as a three-centered entity: the intellectual center (mind), the moving center (body), and the emotional center (heart). Each center has its own unique intelligence and perceptive gifts, and true wisdom requires the harmonious integration of all three.

Moving center. The moving center, encompassing both instinct and physical movement, is crucial for understanding the language of faith encoded in sacred gesture. Rhythmic labor and sacred movement help us reconnect with our bodies and access deeper levels of awareness.

• Instinctive center: inner operational systems
• Moving center: outward interactions with the physical world

Emotional center. The emotional center, often confused with personal feelings, is actually an organ for perceiving divine purpose and beauty. It's not about expressing personal emotions but about attuning ourselves to the subtle energies of the divine. The heart, when purified, can comprehend paradox and connect us to the cosmic mind.

4. Human Purpose: Manifesting Divine Qualities

"Might it not be that the reason for existence has no explanation in the usual sense?"

Beyond rational explanation. The purpose of human existence cannot be fully grasped through rational thought alone. The universe is not a random assortment of parts but a divine hologram reflecting a unifying intelligence. Our role is to participate in this divine dance by manifesting the qualities of the divine.

Energetic continuum. There is an energetic continuum running through all of creation, from pure consciousness to the physical world. We humans occupy a unique position in this continuum, capable of transforming subtle energies into physical form and vice versa.

• Consciousness/Spirit
• Psychic Force
• Physical Energy/Matter

Reciprocal feeding. We are not just passive recipients of divine energy but active participants in a process of reciprocal feeding. By embodying qualities like love, compassion, and truth, we provide vital nourishment for the physical world. Our actions, whether conscious or unconscious, have a direct impact on the energetic balance of the cosmos.

5. Transformation: The Alchemy of Surrender

"Blessed is that lion whom the man devours, for that lion shall become man. But cursed is the man whom the lion devours, for that man shall become lion."

Inner alchemy. Transformation is not about escaping the physical world but about engaging with it in a way that reveals the inner qualities of aliveness. It's a process of sacred alchemy, where we surrender our outer forms to release the divine energy within.

Dying to the lesser self. The journey of transformation requires a willingness to "die" to our lesser self—the egoic identity that clings to personal desires and agendas. This is not a literal death but an inner surrender that allows our true self to emerge.

• Sacrifice = "make holy" or "make whole"
• Releasing inner aliveness

Reciprocal feeding. This act of surrender releases psychic force, a vital nutrient for the building up of the planetary body and our human kinship. The soul energy released in this sacrifice reveals the name of God we truly bear, making it available as a fragrance and nutrient to help the work of others.

6. Freedom is Found Through Surrender, Not Choice

"Being free to be one's personality is not freedom."

Two kinds of freedom. The modern Western worldview equates freedom with choice—the ability to do what we want. But the Wisdom tradition offers a different understanding: true freedom is found through surrender, not choice. It's about aligning ourselves with our true nature and the divine will.

Spontaneity freedom. True freedom is not about maximizing our options but about being able to act spontaneously from our center. It's about being free from the manipulations of the lower self and being guided by the wisdom of the heart.

• Choice freedom: doing what we want
• Spontaneity freedom: acting from our center

Personhood. The ultimate fruit of transformation is the shift from being an individual to becoming a person—one through whom Greater Life resounds. This is not about losing our uniqueness but about finding our true place within the larger cosmic dance.

7. The Heart Sees Beyond the Mind's Limitations

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

Objective seeing. The heart, when purified, is capable of objective seeing—a way of perceiving that goes beyond the limitations of the rational mind. It's not about detachment but about deep participation, where we become one with what we are seeing.

Imaginal realm. The heart is our instrument for accessing the imaginal realm, where divine qualities take form. It's a realm of patterns, symbols, and archetypes that can be perceived through the awakened heart.

• Heart = organ of perception
• Imaginal = realm of qualities

Conscience. The ultimate expression of heart-seeing is conscience—the ability to see the divine hologram in any situation and to act spontaneously in alignment with that wholeness. It's not about following rules but about responding to the inner guidance of the heart.

8. Tools for Awakening: Presence, Practice, and Surrender

"Awakening the heart, or the spiritualized mind, is an unlimited process of making the mind more sensitive, focused, energized, subtle and refined, of joining it to its cosmic milieu, the infinity of love."

Spiritualized mind. Awakening the heart begins with spiritualizing the mind—making it more focused, sensitive, and attuned to the divine. This involves practices that cultivate attention, balance, and surrender.

Core practices:

• Presence: Cultivating three-centered awareness in daily life
• Meditation: Quieting the mind and accessing deeper levels of consciousness
• Sacred chanting: Vibrating the heart with divine love and adoration
• Lectio divina: Training the visionary imagination through sacred reading
• Surrender: Letting go of the smaller self and aligning with the divine will

Inner yes. The journey of awakening is not about following a rigid program but about cultivating an inner "yes"—a willingness to open our hearts and allow the divine to guide us. It's a process of continuous learning and growth, where we gradually become more attuned to the subtle energies of the cosmos.

Last updated: February 3, 2025