Egos we bend,
And preconceptions are set aside,
We bow down,
To find the truth
And see the light.
Stiff minds break,
While Soft thoughts flow like water.
In a quiet surrender,
Wisdom whispers.
Our sure things are sand castles,
Washed away by new knowledge tides.
Empty hands, open hearts,
Make room to grow.
Truth’s not a thing to hold,
But an expanding horizon.
As we drop heavy guesses,
Our steps get light, quick.
To see clear, we first say
Our sight has limits.
When we know we’re blind,
We start to really see.
The light we want often hides
In the dark of what we think we know.
Only when we dare ask
Do we light our way.
Finding Wisdom in Surrender
In Plato’s “Apology,” Socrates states, “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” This parallels the poem’s lines, “To see clear, we first say / Our sight has limits.” Both Socrates and the poem suggest that true wisdom begins with acknowledging our own ignorance.
Isn’t it fascinating how true understanding often requires us to let go of what we think we know? This piece beautifully captures the journey of wisdom through humility.
The image of bending egos reminds me of what Socrates meant when he said, “I know that I know nothing.” It’s this willingness to set aside our presumed knowledge that opens the door to true learning.
Furthermore, the imagery of “soft thoughts flow like water” and “sand castles washed away by new knowledge tides” is identical to Socratic method of questioning and dialectic.
However, when I speak of soft thoughts flowing like water, I am echoing the Taoist concept of “wu wei” or effortless action. As Lao Tzu put it, “Nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as water. Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible, nothing can surpass it.”
The idea of sure things being sand castles washed away by new knowledge brings to mind what science philosopher Thomas Kuhn called “paradigm shifts.” Our understanding of the world is constantly evolving as new information challenges old beliefs.
The notion that truth is an expanding horizon rather than a thing to hold reflects what philosopher Karl Popper thought about scientific knowledge. He believed that we can never prove a theory absolutely true, only show that it hasn’t been proven false yet.
So what does all this mean? Perhaps it’s about recognizing that true wisdom comes from a place of humility and openness. It’s about understanding that our knowledge is always incomplete, and that’s okay.
Remember, every moment of doubt or uncertainty can be an opportunity for growth. As the Zen master Shunryu Suzuki said, “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s mind there are few.”
So next time you find yourself sure of something, consider: How might letting go of that certainty open you to new understandings? Because isn’t that what makes the pursuit of knowledge so exciting? This constant opportunity to expand our horizons, to see the world anew. Your willingness to question and learn is your greatest asset. How will you embrace the humble pursuit of wisdom today?