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Knowledge is Power
Sociologists speak about the mystification of knowledge as a means of power and control. This can be observed in all aspects of life. Francis Bacon said,
“Knowledge is power.”
To know something that someone else does not know gives you great power over them. Most of our business contacts are made with people who have greater knowledge than us. We go to see doctors, lawyers, accountants, financial planners etc. for their specialized knowledge.
Like all things in life, if you want knowledge you must pay for it. It can be obtained through the university of hard knocks but the fees are very expensive. If you attend a traditional university there is also a price to pay, in time, money and loss of income. Having obtained this knowledge you are then free to sell it to someone else.
It has been said, “If you think knowledge is expensive then try ignorance”.
Benjamin Franklin coined the phrase, “An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”
Few will ever reach the pinnacle of knowledge in this life. Just when you think you have the right answers, they change the questions. You must then start again from a different or higher platform.
For those few who do, they “experience things which eye has not seen nor ear heard”. These are the maxers who eat at the banquet table.
The Ultimate in Knowledge - Inspiration
Most would agree that in this life we need all the help we can get. To know something can give you a certain level of energy that will propel you to action.
Knowledge already exists. All we have to do is uncover it or, if you like, discover it.
We do not make it or create it but once found it is there for us to use. The people most likely to discover it are those involved in the process of doing or thinking.
Some receive it as if it is a gift. For others it is a reward.
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It is when knowledge is received from beyond or outside of ourselves that we experience something special. This is understood by those who have experienced it. For many other people, the concept may be difficult to understand.
If we have not experienced it ourselves we should not make the mistake in believing that others have not. We can all receive these insights to a lesser or greater degree.
Each person will give it a different label. To some it is inspiration or intuition, to others, revelation or a gut feeling. Whatever you may choose to call it does not matter. What does matter is that we recognize it when it happens, because it can produce a defining moment in our life.
Les Brown explained it this way:
“You will reach a point in your journey when your consciousness takes on its own energy.
I have an artist friend who describes to me these transcendent moments in her painting when the brush seems to operate of its own volition.
My writer friends say they experience similar moments when the words flow from an unknown source that seems beyond their conscious selves. The gift flows, the talent speaks, the muse works her own magic. You become the instrument of a greater power.”
An instrument is a good description because the knowledge or ability is increased beyond one’s normal capacity. Your body is used as a vehicle to convey what is required. It is like swimming in an ocean or river when all of a sudden, without warning, you are lifted up by a wave or current that carries you along faster than your natural ability.
Stephen King, the author of ‘The Shining’, ‘Salem’s Lot’, ‘Carrie’ and many other best sellers told of his experience when writing ‘The Stand’.
He had reached a point in his writing where he could go no further. He had what is called ‘writer’s block’ and was ready to abandon the book. Having written five hundred pages he was reluctant.
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He said, “There was this little voice whispering to me that the book was really good and if I didn’t finish it I would regret it forever.”
He was blocked for weeks and no amount of thinking was producing the answers.
He then said, “One day when I was thinking of nothing much at all, the answer came to me. It arrived whole and complete, gift-wrapped. You could say, in a single bright flash. At one moment I had none of this. At the next I had all of it”.
The School Door is Always Open
No doubt there has been much in this book that you have agreed with, while other ideas have challenged your belief system. This is okay. This is a thinking book. When challenged with new ideas we have a number of options.
The first one is to consider the idea so outrageous that you reject it immediately.
It is so preposterous that you will not even entertain the idea of considering it. It disagrees with everything you believe in and stand for.
The second and better alternative is not to make an immediate judgment. You take the idea and, figuratively speaking, put it on the shelf. It is like those books that are waiting on your bookshelf until you have the time to read them. When you have the time, money, knowledge, skills and experience, you take the idea off the shelf to investigate it.
You may still reject it but this time your rejection is not based on ignorance, as you have used all your faculties to investigate the matter thoroughly.
On the other hand the idea may ring true and, if so, there will be a certain resonance that you will feel: a feeling of light rather than darkness. It will feel good. The ideas agree with your value system. These ideas we must embrace and act upon.
In life most answers to our questions lie within us.
A young man goes to a master in an effort to trick him. The young man has a bird in his hand that he has hidden behind his back.
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He asks the master if the bird is alive or dead. If the master says alive he will squeeze the bird to death thus showing the master he was wrong. If the master says dead he will release the bird to fly away. Either way he knew he would win the point.
The master’s reply was, “The answer to your question is in your hands.”
So it is with life, the answer is in our hands.
Chapter Summary
Major points to think about
What great gifts have been given to me? Who has been the giver? Am I a giving person?
What was the spirit of Chief Seattle's address? Do I teach people how to fish?
Am I possessed by my possessions?
In what ways am I a beggar? What do I really think about the model of giving to others without expectations of any kind? Do I embrace change or do I fight against it?
How is knowledge more important than faith? In what way does knowledge give me power? When was the last time I received inspiration?
What does it mean, the school door is always open?
Suggested points to act upon
I will give something of value to someone in need. I will make a list of those things that I receive without any effort on my part. I will decide how I can show appreciation for these free gifts.
I will make a conscious effort from this point on to teach other people how to fish even when it is inconvenient.
From now on I will give without expecting anything in return.
Acquisition of knowledge rather than information is what I will seek.
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Faith in my destiny will become my motivating power.
I will live my life in such a way as to receive inspiration.
MY NOTES
___________________________________________
WHY NOT USE DENNIS CURYER AS A GUEST SPEAKER FOR YOUR
NEXT CONFERENCE OR SEMINAR?
Dennis speaks about winning in life and in business.
For further information, visit Dennis’s webpage www.theoraclespeaker.com Or phone or fax him:
Phone: 61 3 9735 4447
Fax: 61 3 9735 4039
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INDEX
A
aberration, 11
abundance, 1, 57, 86, 106, 107, 114
acquisition, 1, 57, 106, 107, 114
basic needs, 1
possessions, 30, 108, 112, 119, 121
academics, 23
accidents, 5, 53
acclaim, 119
accumulation, 68, 120
achievement, 3, 22, 29, 43, 45, 46
acclaim, 3, 45, 46
acquisition, 10, 78
Adelaide, 8, 17, 33, 80
adolescence, 68
Adonai, 11
adoption, 9
adultery, 117
adversity, 19
advertising, 30
Aesop, 44
affliction
blindness, 7, 44, 54
cripple, 47
depression, 18, 62
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insanity, 19, 61
lepers, 89
polio, 47
speech impediment, 47
stuttering, 47
tuberculosis, 62
age, 45
Akiva, Rabbi, 78
Alexander the Great, 46
Allah, 11, 118
Allen, Woody, 76
alternatives, 21, 77
ambition, 16, 44, 46, 114
ambulance, 98
American Civil War, 103
Amin, Idi, 21
ancestors, 1, 8, 107
Ancient Egypt, 36
Ancient Greeks, 8
ancient manuscripts
digital cameras, 24
anger, 12, 21, 64, 70, 74, 85, 91, 96, 98, 99, 100, 101
annus horribilis, 16, 17
apology, 95, 96
appreciation, 19, 25, 36, 68, 87, 88, 89, 121
approach, 40, 72, 99, 102
Arabic, 68, 69, 88, 118
architecture, 7
architects, 7
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arthritis, 114
as if, 35
atheism, 13
Athens, 21, 47, 68, 69
attitude, 9, 18, 41, 101
anger, 91
appreciation, 19, 36, 68, 87, 88, 89, 121
approach, 40, 72, 99, 102
bad luck, 40, 42, 100, 115, 118
banquet of life, 40, 42, 100, 115, 118
bitterness, 12, 39
blame, 40, 41, 42, 51, 100, 115, 118
bliss, 5, 120
bravery, 31, 76
calm, 71, 75, 101
choice, 4, 15, 42, 103
coasting, 7
compassion, 18, 59, 86
confidence, 20, 53, 74, 81, 96, 101, 109
criticism, 90, 91, 92
cynical, 18, 54
debase, 13
destructive thoughts, 34, 35
disappointment, 12, 89, 97, 112
endurance, 47
enthusiasm, 45
expectations, 16, 20, 40, 85, 87, 120
failure, 45, 72, 82, 122
fear, 3, 19, 35, 39, 44, 73, 74, 75, 76, 81, 101, 108, 112, 120, 123
forgiveness, 96
frustration, 12
good luck, 40, 42, 100, 115, 118
guilt, 20, 85, 96
happiness, 1, 30, 52, 60, 61, 62, 89, 109, 110, 119, 120
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harmony, 5, 21, 96
hope, 1, 86, 101, 116, 123
humility, 2, 81, 91
indispensable, 23, 122
inferiority, 9
insecurity, 9
integrity, 60, 62, 76
joy, 12
power, 6, 7, 11, 33, 34, 35, 41, 53, 55, 62, 73, 78, 101, 102, 120, 123
powerless, 5
pride, 91, 109
remorse, 39, 85, 117
sadness, 12
self-doubt, 35
self-esteem, 2, 61
self-image, 18, 96
self-importance, 23
self-realization, 1
self-searching, 8
stress, 20, 21, 22
success, 3, 16, 29, 30, 46, 47, 67, 72, 91, 101, 123
survivor, 95, 113
trust, 41, 57, 63, 64, 120
victim, 6, 39, 41, 42, 95, 96
victor, 6, 42, 95
win, 7, 78, 82, 97, 103, 125
Australia, 12, 25
Australian Air Force, 72
autumn, 1, 38
average, 1, 10, 89
aviation, 72
Azaria, 25
B
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Baalbeck, 69, 110
Bacchus, 1, 41
Bacon, Francis, 123
bad luck, 5
baggage, 42, 95
Baha’i, 88
Bancroft, George, 43
banquet of life, 1
Barzelotto, Peter, 111
basic needs, 1
beast, 6
Beautiful Mind, A,, 34
beggars, 117, 118
beginning, 8, 9, 10, 11, 23, 24, 38, 71, 107, 123
behavior, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 22, 34, 51, 62, 63, 85, 86, 90, 95, 122
anger, 12, 64, 70, 74, 85, 91, 96, 98, 99, 100, 101
bravery, 31, 76
compatability, 60, 72, 101
compromise, 59, 102
conflict, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103
delusional, 34
emotional maturity, 121
encouragement, 74, 91
endurance, 47
exalt, 13, 103
excellence, 3, 11
expectations, 16, 20, 40, 85, 87, 120
fear, 3, 19, 35, 39, 44, 73, 74, 75, 76, 101, 108, 112, 120, 123
forgetfulness, 9
forgiveness, 96
frustration, 12
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giving, 59, 78, 106, 108, 109, 112, 113, 115, 118, 119, 121
greed, 85
guilt, 20, 85, 96
hesitation, 77, 123
honesty, 60, 62, 64, 76
humanitarianism, 71, 87
humility, 2, 81, 91
instinct, 4, 14
integrity, 60, 62, 76
procrastination, 19
receiving, 108, 109, 110
reconciliation, 95, 103
rejection, 9, 125
reluctance, 10
resistance, 75, 115, 121
road rage, 100
self-actualization, 1
self-defeating, 34
self-starters, 2
sorrow, 12, 47, 59
weaknesses, 2, 19, 42, 77
Beirut, 24, 68, 69, 117, 118, 121, 122
belief systems, 20, 21
Bethany, 25
Bhagavad-Gita, 58, 101
Bible, The
New Testament, 33, 56, 89
biological, 9, 11
birds, 1, 4, 14
birth, 6, 9, 10, 11, 23, 38, 70, 76, 88, 122
conception, 9, 10
pregnancy, 6
womb, 10, 11
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Birth We Call Death, The, 12
bitterness, 12, 39
Blake, William, 25
blame, 40, 41, 42, 51
blasé, 25
bliss, 5, 120
Bloch, Dora, 21
bomb, 13, 14, 64, 121
Bonaparte, Napoleon, 46
books, 14, 71, 101
Branson, Richard, 73
bravery, 31, 76
breath of life, 10
breathing, 101
Broken Hill, 17, 31, 73, 111
brotherhood, 67
Brown, Les, 73, 81, 124
Buddha, 7
Buddhists, 23
Bunyan, John, 45
Pilgrim's Progress, 45
burnout, 22, 23
Burrows, Anne, 111
C
Caesar, Julius, 76
Calcutta, 120
calm, 71, 75, 101
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Camelot, 75
chivalry, 76
King Arthur, 75
Sir Gawain, 75, 76
Campbell, Joseph, 5, 88
The Power of Myth, 88
canaries and crows, 42
cancer, 7, 17, 36, 110
carelessness, 72
Carlyle, Thomas, 39
carrion, 4
Carroll, Lewis
Alice in Wonderland, 56
Carter, Ruben, 70
catalyst, 19
Catholicism
Theresa, Mother, 120
Vatican, 88
Catholics, 88
cemetery, 23
challenges, 6, 29, 71
change, 20, 23, 37, 39, 41, 42, 78, 86, 87, 121, 122, 124
chaos, 64, 69, 82, 101
character, 18, 67, 86, 89, 99
charity, 57, 106, 109
Chief Seattle, 106
chivalry, 76
choice, 4, 15, 42, 103
Christianity, 23, 106
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Christian, 8, 56, 87
Jesus of Nazareth, 25, 42, 46, 51, 53, 89, 117
chromosome, 6, 13
Churchill, Winston, 45
Circe, 29
circumstances, 41, 51, 52, 54
classroom, 15
classes, 15, 24, 79
curriculum, 15
clever, 14, 29, 30, 61, 81
Clinton, President, 96
closure, 95, 96
clouds, 9, 19, 39
coasting, 7
Cohen, Rabbi Henry, 87
collaboration, 103
colours, 23, 38
Columbus, Christopher, 44
comfort zone, 37, 73, 121
commandments, 10, 106
commitment, 56, 78
compassion, 18, 59, 86
compatible, 60, 72, 101
competition, 3
completion, 5, 23
compliments, 61, 92
compromise, 59, 102
compulsion, 40
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conception, 9, 10
confidence, 20, 53, 74, 81, 96, 101, 109
conflict, 97, 98, 99