Wisdom is achieved very slowly. This is because intellectual knowledge, easily acquired, must be transformed into emotional, or subconscious, knowledge. Once transformed, the imprint is permanent. Behavioural practice is the necessary catalyst of this reaction. Without action, the concept will wither and fade. Theoretical knowledge without practical application is not enough.

Balance and harmony are neglected today, yet they are the foundations of wisdom. Everything is done to excess. People are overweight because they eat excessively. Joggers neglect aspects of themselves and others because they run excessively. People seem excessively mean. They drink too much, smoke too much, carouse too much (or too little), talk too much without content, and worry too much. There is too much black-and-white thinking. All or none. This is not the way of nature.

In nature there is balance. Beasts destroy in small amounts. Ecological systems are not eliminated en masse. Plants are consumed and then grow. The sources of sustenance are dipped into and then replenished. The flower is enjoyed, the fruit eaten, the root preserved. Humankind has not learned about balance, let alone practiced. It is guided by greed and ambition, steered by fear. In this way it will eventually destroy itself. But nature will survive. Happiness is really rooted in simplicity. The tendency to excessiveness in thought an action diminishes happiness.

Religious/spiritual people tell me that happiness comes from filling one's heart with love, from faith and hope, from practicing charity and dispensing kindness. They are right. Given those attitudes, balance and harmony usually follow. These are collectively a state of being. In these days, they are an altered state of consciousness. It is as if humankind were not in its natural state while on earth. It must reach an altered state in order to fill itself with love and charity and simplicity, to feel purity, to rid itself of its chronic fearfulness. How does one reach this altered state, this other value system? And once reached, how can it be sustained?

The answer is simple. It is the common denominator of all religions. Humankind is immortal, and what we are doing now is learning our lessons. We are all in school. It is so simple if you can believe in immortality.

We all seem to be going to the same place ultimately, although in different speeds. Consider the lessons. Intellectually the answers have always been there, but this need to actualise by experience, to make the subconscious imprint permanent by emotionalising and practicing the concept, is the key. Memorizing at home is not enough. Lip service without the behaviour has no value. It is easy to read about or to talk about love and charity and faith. But to do it, to feel it, almost requires an altered state of consciousness.

Not the transient state induced by drugs, alcohol, or unexpected emotion. The permanent state is reached by knowledge and understanding. It is sustained by physical behaviour, by act and deed, by practice. It is taken something nearly mystical and transforming it to everyday familiarity by practice, making it a habit. Understand that no one is greater than another. Feel it. Practice helping another. We are all rowing the same boat. If we don't pull together, our plants are going to be awfully lonely.

General Major The Chevalier Dr. Eric Robert van de Wall MKN