Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
One can be an expert in one's personal worldview, but a novice in a religion they have found that aligns with it.
True. I think many mixedthe two
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One can be an expert in one's personal worldview, but a novice in a religion they have found that aligns with it.
Can one be an expert and a novice at the same time?
Yes just like we have squared circles and tall short people
A novice knows little, so must accept much in order to improve. An expert became an expert by accepting much, and almost certainly must continue to accept much.
Some believe that they know all, and that if they don't know something it is because it doesn't exist.
The mayor of Athens called Socrates an idiot. Socrates replied that he knows more than the mayor because he knows that he (Socrates) is an idiot, while the mayor does not know that he (mayor) is an idiot. Socrates believed that wisdom could be obtained by discussion. Apparently even Socrates continued to learn.
Sarcasm?
Explain. I'm not getting what your message.
Yes it's sarcasm because your question of being an expert and novice at the same time contradicts itself. I honestly often think that people here don't even think about what they post. They simply post stuff to try and sound smart but, had they taken a moment to think out loud or even ask that question out loud they would realize how foolish it sounds and 1) not ask it and 2) by hearing how ridiculous they sound they will actually find the answer
There are a few well-known quotes I've read awhile back from the book Zen Mind Beginner's Mind about spirituality (in this case Dharmic practice) and being in the state of a beginner's mind:
“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few”
“The true purpose [of Zen] is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes... Zen practice is to open up our small mind.”
“The goal of practice is always to keep our beginner’s mind.”
and so forth.
To all those who have a faith and grounded in it, do you believe you are still a seeker just as someone who is trying to find their religion or spiritual practice or do you not agree that to have a "Zen" mind one needs to have a beginner's mind also?
Can one be an expert and a novice at the same time?