Knowledge : From Books or Experience?

Knowledge

In the layman’s language, knowledge is understanding or familiarity gained by experience and experience is knowledge or skill acquired from seeing and doing things. In order to get familiarity and command of knowledge through books, the need to read and comprehend is first and foremost. The place of backs in theoretical knowledge is paramount; But the question that confronts one and all is the relative place and position of books and direct experience in the drama of life that we are expected to watch as spectators and also be participants in the big show that goes on and on as well Knowledgeable persons, irrespective of theif perceptions and proclivities prefer experience over books. Meaning of words and events may change as all things are subject to change the relevance of experience in one’s concern. Considerations is almost perennial and permanent. Although books are our never failing friends, yet the most telling truth of existence is that we live to learn from everyday experiences.

Whether laity or learned, rustic or researcher. direct experience is such a rich source of knowledge as comes naturally for the asking. Through trial and error, we learn so much-from daily experiences that bookish knowledge pales into triviality. Though comparisons are odious, yetthe ambient and august role of experience in our lives is vivid and vib~rant.rReading a book or books to gather knowledge is a-poor possession as compared to the fresh and fulsome wisdom that one gains from experience.
 With books the reader establishes an imaginary relationship, whereas with everyday experiences we learn the most credible and live lessons of life. One has to exert to understand books in their letter and spirit. With experience the fallout is natural and annuanced. If books are our best friends, experiences are Our intrinsic instructors. With books we may become scholars if our hearts and minds are really in tune with their contents and context. but it is through direct experience of sweet and sour moments that we hope to become worldly wise. Memoirs and'autobiographies are the spontaneous renderings of one’s experiences and encounters with different persons. places and problems.
We learn the most difficult lessons of life when we make up our minds to face ground realities. To the literate, books contain the wisdom of ages, but to ordinary mortals it is the mundane world and its varied activities loaded with odds and opportunities, that imparts knowledge which is so vital and vigorous ; knowledge is both pelf and power. It comes to us not by chance, but by shedding one’s sweat and sometimes even blood. Reading a book is a passive act. whereas undergoing an experience .is an active participation in the drama of life, with happy or not so happy finale. Whether we succeed or fail on the suspenseful stage of the world, the role ahd relevance of personal experience is never in doubt. While the books talk of abstract ideas or othér person's experiences, fancies and fantasies, personal experiences express ground realities.
 If the reading of books makes men / women scholars and academics, personal encounters with experiences render human beings knowledgeable and worldly-wise. Whether we are book worms or practical pedders, the authenticity of experiences in life, full of ups and downs, ever remains supreme and stupendous. While books 'are our constant guide ‘and philosopher, experiences, both sweet and sour, are our intense instructor and innate informer. King Robert Bruce learnt the most reliable lessbn of life while he observed the tiny Spider try, try again till it succeeded in its mission. The very successful entrepreneurs owe their success and stature to grinding expe~ riences that they were called‘upon to undergo with guts and grits. Experience and knowledge are two sides of a current coin that never goes out of circulation. Both support and sustain each other.

In Shakespeare’s language “all the world is a stage’ where we come and go and experience ‘existential dilemma' in all its intensity and em igmatic enormity. All that meets the eye may be half-true and the other half that is shrouded in mystery may unfold itself only when we live life and face queer experiences that help improve our knowledge of things, persons and problems around.

That knowledge emanates from experiences and wisdom from books is an age-old axiom. Those who keep their ears to the ground and eyes wide open and believe in the dictum of ‘discretion being the better part of valoUr’ always give due credit and credence to first hand experiences. ‘We learn while we earn’ has been experienced with rewarding results and equally commendable consequences. ‘Life is action’ is another way of ‘learning or deriving appropriate-lessons’ from everyday experiences.