During my Eastern Theories class today, the teacher shared that there can be no understanding without direct experience. I can read, watch videos, or listen to lectures to learn about spiritual traditions like Advaita Vedanta or Buddhism, but I can never hope to achieve understanding without experiencing them firsthand.
My martial arts teacher Dennis Mahoney said it this way, “Learning martial arts by kata forms is like learning swimming by dryland exercises.” In other words, practicing techniques (kata forms) without a live training partner (with whom to interact to simulate a conflict) will result in not being able to effectively apply those techniques in a real conflict.
Truly, there is no substitute for direct hands-on experience in developing understanding.
I love to read, but reading a book about healthy nutrition will not lower my body fat or reading about dog training will not train my dog. I need to change how I eat and exercise if I want to lower my body fat. I need to work with my dog to learn how to train her and teach her commands. Reading and learning can inform, but understanding (and ultimately results) comes from a commitment to action over time. In other words, understanding comes through the experience, which comes from practice.
Questions to ask: What are you practicing? Are you getting the experience you need to get the understanding you want?
Kindly,
David