Enlightenment vs. Knowledge

alexr · **Joined:** Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:00 am **Posts:** 35

Hi all,

What do you think is the difference between Enlightenment and knowledge?

Alex

IlluminatusRex · **Posted:** Thu Aug 28, 2008 5:56 am

The former is the state of possessing the latter. Although "knowledge" tends to be information in general while "enlightenment" is often used to refer to spiritual knowledge in particular these days.

gypsy_jaq · **Joined:** Wed Oct 08, 2008 12:00 am **Posts:** 1

I suppose i would say that the difference between knowledge & enlightenment is...knowledge is to know or comprehend, while enlightenment is to understand...such as...a knowledgeable person would have a basic understanding of a certain point...where as an enlightened person would fully realize all aspects of the topic at hand...this is to say that...a person who has knowledge of a topic will have a basic understanding of the point while a person who is enlightened will have a deeper sense understanding of the subject.........this is only my interpretation of the differences between knowledge & enlightenment...should anyone have something to share on this topic i am intrigued in this subject & would enjoy discussing more...you may contact me at my email.

Edited to remove email. Spambots will find open links in forums, please use the button to prevent getting spammed relentlessly. SS

Crazyeugene · **Posted:** Wed Oct 08, 2008 9:46 pm

You are enlightened with knowledge. You have knowledge.

marys_little_lamb · **Joined:** Tue Oct 07, 2008 12:00 am **Posts:** 4

it's about the moment. we hold knowledge all the time. enlightenment is something i'm usually unexpectedly tossed into when i am following my own bliss. so i think the difference is when we are simply in a state of knowledge we want to teach or just share this with others. some more ego based people want to just prance around showing off how smart they are though. but when i'm in that state of enlightenment i just tend to sit back and smile knowing ultimately everything is perfectly imperfect about me, life, and the universe. and all is going as planned. ;o)

Ginger_Ale · **Posted:** Wed Oct 15, 2008 6:35 am

IMHO, enlightenment is being knowledge. If you are present in the now, you become aware of everything going on around you and respond as you see fit.

NightLighter · **Posted:** Wed Oct 15, 2008 8:08 am

As I see it, enlightenment is being able to see & respect the dangers of knowledge - Knowledge can be gained from any book, classroom, web-site, etc. Enlightenment can only be achieved from true soul-searching...Blessings, NL

WhiteTiger · **Posted:** Wed Oct 15, 2008 9:04 am

Imo, knowledge is of the mind, a thing of mundane 3D. Enlightenment on the other hand is a process and state of the spirit. Kinda like the difference between shoes and gloves... both are protective coverings for the extremities, but they aren't interchangeable or easily confused.

Tiger

Graham · **Posted:** Fri Oct 24, 2008 2:28 pm

alexr wrote:

What do you think is the difference between Enlightenment and knowledge?

Could it be that knowledge and wisdom are related and come as a result of enlightenment ?

And as we climb the ladder of enlightenment so our knowledge/wisdom increases and deepens ?

Graham

BOBINH2OTOWN · **Posted:** Fri Oct 24, 2008 3:05 pm

good point....depends how ya look at it,,,, remember back then they had no technology. so what one assumes is , that couldnt be answered back then...

now after thousands of years. one could put in perspective. with knowledge of science,mathematics,chemistry and physics...

IEnlightenment broadly means wisdom or understanding enabling clarity of perception.

so a Enlightenment knows how it is.....but doesnt know how its done ....

NightLighter · **Posted:** Sat Oct 25, 2008 8:37 am

Graham wrote:

Could it be that knowledge and wisdom are related and come as a result of enlightenment ?
And as we climb the ladder of enlightenment so our knowledge/wisdom increases and deepens ?
Graham

Now, I think we're getting somewhere

Knowledge gives us the information to perform an action (even if it's not in the best interests of all)... Wisdom makes us ponder that action & question the insights to the outcome (short-term & long-term)...Enlightenment gives us the true & correct answers to all of these actions...Blessings, NL

dolphin · **Posted:** Sat Oct 25, 2008 2:07 pm

Hi AlexR

I was curious as to what you think is the difference between enlightenment and knowledge. I glanced through this thread and did not see where you had stated your opinion.

Thanks,
dolphin

Graham · **Posted:** Mon Oct 27, 2008 2:52 pm

BOBINH2OTOWN wrote:

IEnlightenment broadly means wisdom or understanding enabling clarity of perception.

so a Enlightenment knows how it is.....but doesnt know how its done ....

Very well put :pray:

........ or shall I say enlightening !!!

Graham

alexr · **Joined:** Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:00 am **Posts:** 35

dolphin wrote:

Hi AlexR

I was curious as to what you think is the difference between enlightenment and knowledge. I glanced through this thread and did not see where you had stated your opinion.

Thanks,
dolphin

Hi Dolphin,

I don't really have an opinion on it yet. I posed the question because I was curious as to what people's thoughts on the two are. I'm mainly here to learn, not to impart.

Alex

Firey28 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2008 3:38 am

Enlightenment is knowledge.

One can not be obtained without the other..

ScientistGeorge · **Joined:** Sun Sep 28, 2008 12:00 am **Posts:** 60

I know a great quote by a very enlightened source. "Enlightenment means to be in knowledge of." How I understand this is that when you are very knowledgeable you are enlightened. When you know how to know whatever you want you are completely enlightened.

dolphin · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2008 6:18 pm

Thanks for the answer, Alexr.

kaje · **Joined:** Tue Jul 15, 2008 12:00 am **Posts:** 151

I agree for how can you be enlightened if you don't have the knowledge to understand it?

Graham · **Posted:** Mon Nov 03, 2008 10:06 am

kaje wrote:

I agree for how can you be enlightened if you don't have the knowledge to understand it?

Or perhaps ...... how can you be knowledge-able if you are not enlightened to understand it .....

Graham

mero · **Joined:** Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:00 am **Posts:** 1

Enlightenment is knowledge of everything.
Absolute,ultimate knowledge.

mensa517 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 05, 2008 6:37 pm

KNOWLEDGE

There are different types of "KNOWLEDGE." The terms "a priori" and "a posteriori" construct the characteristics the two types of knowledge: justifications or arguments. A priori knowledge or justification is notwithstanding of experience (for example 'All bachelors are unmarried'); a posteriori knowledge or justification is reliant on familiarity or empirical evidence (for example 'Some bachelors are very happy').

But knowledge is not necessarily truth. It is a construct which becomes a belief and those familiar with beliefs are sure to understand that not everything we believe is true. Hence knowledge becomes subjective via what is taught i.e. what we are told is truth and once we experience this â€œtruthâ€

Rik · **Joined:** Mon May 07, 2007 12:00 am **Posts:** 1

Knowledge and Enlightenment(Avatar level not "guru") are two entirely different things. Its like comparing a bicycle to a Space craft.

Knowledge is gained through the mind in the form of understanding. The mind however cannot "know" anything, it can only "know about" it. It's the difference between "knowing" what its like to be chinese and "knowing about" china and its people. The mind cant in fact even "experience" knowlege -it only know about it. It takes the experience itself to move beyond knowlegde of to experiencial knowing of.

Enlightenment is a knowingness of All. Once in union with God(or whatever you prefer) what is there to gain knowledge about? All is known and self revealing as All.

Faithhaver · **Joined:** Mon Dec 10, 2007 1:00 am **Posts:** 11

Knowledge is the meaning. Enlightenment is the meaning behind the meaning.

MediaMonkey · **Joined:** Sun Jul 16, 2006 12:00 am **Posts:** 935

Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living, the other helps you make a life...
- Sandra Carey

tandym · **Joined:** Mon Feb 27, 2006 1:00 am **Posts:** 260

Knowledgable is to Well-Read as Enlightenment is to Epiphany.

Graham · **Posted:** Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:24 pm

I got this view from Imhotepsol in an e-mail from him:

................... wisdom comes from inside yourself, knowledge is the application of wisdom. Wisdom is about unlearning not learning more and more.

Graham

Imhotepsol · **Joined:** Fri Jan 23, 2009 1:00 am **Posts:** 22

MediaMonkey wrote:

Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living, the other helps you make a life...
- Sandra Carey

Very very profound

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