The Arrogance of Ignorance is the Arrogance of Knowing: A Journey into the Labyrinth of Cognitive Bias and Spiritual Reality
The arrogance of ignorance! It’s a paradoxical phrase. It challenges our notions of what it means to “know.” The arrogance of ignorance is thinking we know, believing we know based on ideas, assumptions, and beliefs without critical thinking or investigation.
This paradox is a double-edged sword, cutting through the fabric of our conditioned reality, urging us to question: What is true knowing? Insisting we know when we only believe or have an entrenched opinion or position is ignorant arrogance.
The Mirage of Cognitive Bias
Let’s start by peeling the first layer of this intricate onion: cognitive bias. Picture your mind as an ancient library, filled with scrolls and texts from past experience, societal norms, and inherited beliefs. When we live exclusively dependent upon this “known” world of ours, we embody not just cognitive bias but also a form of ‘tunnel vision.’ This tunnel vision narrows our perspective, limiting us to what we think we know and blinding us to the vast possibilities of what could be.
The Illusion of Beliefs
Moving deeper into the labyrinth, we encounter our beliefs—those seemingly unshakable pillars that uphold our understanding of reality. In doing so, we are essentially ‘wearing blinders,’ focusing only on what confirms our existing beliefs and ignoring what challenges them.
Aren’t they constructs, shaped by the chisel of our past experiences and societal conditioning? In the Diamond Approach, beliefs are considered veils that separate us from our true nature. They are the walls of the prison we’ve unknowingly built around ourselves. Isn’t it time we started dismantling these walls, brick by brick, belief by belief?
It is a peculiar trait of human nature that the less we truly know, the more ardently we cling to our beliefs. The wisest among us recognize that actual knowledge requires cultivating a beginner’s mind – a willingness to question our assumptions and see the world with new eyes.
Yet often, those most plagued by ignorance are quickest to claim knowledge. Their false certainty stems not from wisdom but from deep-seated insecurity and desire to feel superior. They mistake their beliefs for truth and their opinions for facts.
This tendency manifests in many ways, from the armchair philosopher’s casual dogmatism to the demagogue’s dangerous fundamentalism. At its core is arrogance – the failure to recognize one’s own limitations.
The Trap of Comparative Mind
The comparative mind is constantly weighing, measuring, and judging. “This is good; that is bad. I am right; you are wrong.” But in the grand tapestry of existence, what is “good” or “bad”? What is “right” or “wrong”? These are but relative terms, mere ripples in the infinite ocean of reality. The Diamond Approach teaches us to transcend the comparative mind and embrace the totality of our experiences.
What does it mean to “know,” and what does it mean to “know that you know”?
He who knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool—shun him. He who knows not and knows that he knows not is a child—teach him. He who knows and knows not that he knows is asleep—wake him. He who knows and knows that he knows is wise—follow him.
Facts vs. True Knowing
In this age of information, facts are revered as the ultimate truth. But let’s pause and reflect: Are facts the same as true knowing? Facts are like signposts, pointing us in a direction, but they are not the destination. True knowing is experiential, a profound, inner realization that transcends the limitations of the rational mind. It’s like tasting the sweet nectar of a fruit, rather than just reading about its sweetness.
The Spiritual Quest for Reality
So, how do we navigate this labyrinth of illusions to arrive at true knowing? The answer lies in spiritual inquiry—a relentless peeling of the onion, layer by layer until we arrive at the core. It’s a journey that requires courage, humility, and a willingness to question everything we think we know. It’s a path that leads us from the arrogance of ignorance to the humility of true knowing.
Humility is the first step to enlightenment in spiritual and philosophical traditions across cultures. To penetrate beneath surface appearances, we must acknowledge how little we know.
To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day. – Lao Tzu
True wisdom comes not from accumulation but openness, discernment, and letting go of rigid beliefs. The more we cling to our worldview, the more it obscures our vision. We see only what we expect to see, living in an echo chamber of our own making.
Expanding on Basic Knowing from the Diamond Approach
The Diamond Approach posits that “Basic Knowing” starts from a state of “not-knowing.” In our everyday life, we think we know things based on past experiences and societal norms. For example, we label a wall as a “wall” because of our preconceived notions. However, this is just ordinary knowledge, a filter through which we see the world. True, basic knowing begins when we divest ourselves of these preconceptions and look openly to see what we find.
This basic knowing is not merely an intellectual understanding but a complete identity of knowing and being. It is a state of deep abiding, total settling in oneself, complete repose in one’s presence. It is a non-dual experience, with no division between the subject and the object. Sanskrit refers to this state as sahaja-samadhi, a complete inner rest.