What Is Knowledge? Poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

We seek knowledge
About the visible, the observable and the provable.
We get knowledge
Through logic, deduction and experimentation.
We obtain knowledge
From intuition, inference and beliefs.
We attain knowledge
From history, geography and mathematics.
Science and technology plays its part.
Religion and philosophy does its part.
All these kinds of knowledge are inadequate
To steer the life in the troubled pool.

‘To attain knowledge, add things everyday.
To attain wisdom, remove things everyday.'
Said Leo Tzy
True knowledge expands
By reflection. observation and introspection.
‘Compassion, frugality and humility
Are the essence of knowledge.'
Advocates Taoism.
Inner wisdom comes to one
From doing something significant,
Showing compassion where needed
And mustering courage when called for.
Wisdom will not stop things occurring
But will tell how to respond to it.
18.05.2017