The Difference between the Container and the Content

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam

22 June 2023

There was a Guru who was looked upon by all as Wisdom Incarnate. Each day he'd discourse on various aspects of life and it was obvious to all that never had anyone surpassed this man for the variety, the depth and the enticing quality of his teaching.

Again and again his disciple would ask him about the source from which he drew this inexhaustible store of wisdom. He told them that it was all written down in a book that they'd inherit after he was dead.

The day after his death, the disciples found the book exactly where he told them it would be. There was only one page in that book and only one sentence on that page. It read: “Understand the difference between the container and the content and the fount of Wisdom shall be open to you."

Wisdom is not water in a pond that can be stored. Wisdom is an ever- flowing river from which you continuously draw drops or pitchers of water. An educated man speaks from his stored memory and the books he read but a wise man speaks from his consciousness and experiences, both being boundless. What can be confined is knowledge. What cannot be restricted is wisdom. A plant of knowledge burgeons into the tree of wisdom. Hota Hai Dariya-E-Ilm Jab Samandar-e-Irfaan Mein Tabdeel / Palak Jhapakte Sharara-e-Haqeer Ban Jaata Hai Qandeel (When a river of knowledge turns into a sea of wisdom/ A mere spark becomes a lamp in no time).

When Oedipus (the same man eternally condemned for unknowingly 'sleeping' with his mother and getting associated with Freudian Oedipus Complex) satisfied Sphinx with his wise answers, Oedipus said, "De Ent Spake Apt Nous, Dreton Fied Biblio" (you spoke from your wisdom, others spoke from the books). Wisdom cannot be contained. It descends; and it descends all the time. The Urdu phrase Naazil hona has a deeper and mystical connotation. Ghaib Se Naazil Hota Hai Ye Payaam/ Duniyavi Kitabon Mein Nahin Zikra Jis Ka Koi (This message descends from the up and above/ The books of the world don't contain it). Wisdom overwhelms the receiver and is intrinsic, whereas knowledge is an outsider that can be incorporated with efforts. Wisdom is immeasurable and inestimable. That's why the font of Wisdom is inexhaustible. 

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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.

URL:   https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/difference-container-content/d/130046

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