I have known it for a long time but I have only just experienced it. Now I know it not only with my intellect, but with my eyes, with my heart, with my stomach.
Interpretation
True understanding comes from holistic experience, not just intellectual knowledge.
Hermann Hesse's quote reflects the journey of understanding and personal growth. It suggests that knowledge is deepened through personal experience, encompassing not only intellectual comprehension but also emotional and visceral engagement. This holistic understanding transforms one's perception and enhances the quality of that knowledge, allowing it to resonate more profoundly within oneself.
In practice
In a personal development workshop to emphasize the importance of experiential learning.
I shall no longer be instructed by the Yoga Veda or the Aharva Veda, or the ascetics, or any other doctrine whatsoever. I shall learn from myself, be a pupil of myself; I shall get to know myself, the mystery of Siddhartha." He looked around as if he were seeing the world for the first time.
That is where my dearest and brightest dreams have ranged — to hear for the duration of a heartbeat the universe and the totality of life in its mysterious, innate harmony.
I, also, would like to look and smile, sit and walk like that, so free, so worthy, so restrained, so candid, so childlike and mysterious. A man only looks and walks like that when he has conquered his Self. I also will conquer my Self.
You're quite right there," he said. "I have practiced abstinence myself for years, and had my time of fasting, too, but now I find myself once more beneath the sign of Aquarius, a dark and humid constellation.
I call that man awake who, with conscious knowledge and understanding, can perceive the deep unreasoning powers in his soul, his whole innermost strength, desire and weakness, and knows how to reckon with himself.
Despair is the result of each earnest attempt to go through life with virtue, justice and understanding, and to fulfill their requirements. Children live on one side of despair, the awakened on the other side.
When we put the pen to paper, we articulate things in our life that we may have felt vague about. Before you write about something, somebody says, 'How do you feel?' and you say, 'Oh, I feel okay.' Then you write about it, and you discover you don't feel okay.
If men possessed wisdom, which stands in the same relation to the form of man as the sight to the eye, they would not cause any injury to themselves or to others; for the knowledge of truth removes hatred and quarrels, and prevents mutual injuries.
The only time you should look down at someone, is when you are helping them up.
I think everybody should study ants. They have an amazing four-part philosophy. Never give up, look ahead, stay positive and do all you can.
If I have gained anything over these months, it is the knowledge there is no starting over- only living with the mistakes you've made.
Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.
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