Wisdom and Craft
Wisdom is a difficult word to define, because it's very definition is multifaceted, with a myriad of conscious and underlying layers, threads of fiber which give life to the heart of its very meaning. Through experiences, through the art of life, insights can be gained into the intrinsic nature of wisdom. One way wisdom can reveal itself is through craft, through one's connectivity to reality as well as to the cosmos, which are both interlinked with the self in the web of being. The following quote illustrates the theme that wisdom can be found through connectivity to reality and the cosmos:"Simplicity of wisdom is not an artificial simplification of life but the discovery that I am touching all of reality. It also means that I can approach and conceive of reality, if I do not forget myself, if I do not disconnect myself in the process, and if I do not objectify reality, thereby turning myself into a severed subject" (p.10-11). Pannikar, "A Dwelling Place for Wisdom". Two authors whose works contain additional insights into the nature of wisdom, which supplement the insights of Pannikar, are Sue Bender's Plain and Simple: A Woman's Journey into the Amish, and Carla Needleman's The Work of Craft. Both works give an hones
------------------------------------------------------------------------ However, it is possible to embody non-wisdom and as a result lose touch with reality and become a severed subject. There are a few causes of this, which can occur when relativity has been abstracted out. One cause is that reality has been objectified, and in turn this makes reality non-existent. Pannikar addresses this point with "the foundation of knowing-it-all"(p.9), in which he discusses that knowing-it-all is a false self-concept, the antithesis of wisdom. Another cause is over-analyzation, which lends itself to a mistrusting of reality, which creates a lack of trust in the world. A mistrust of the cosmos leads to a lack of connectivity. All of these causes of a loss of connectivity are exemplified through Carla Needleman's search for wisdom. Although she expresses herself through her relationship to her pottery, her entire process demonstrates what she states to be the problem. She attempts to correct her own problem with the same problem, and as a result her co! In conclusion, both Bender and Needlemans' experiences resonate with wisdom in their own respects. Wisdom manifests itself through craft, and mirrors itself through the creativity of that craft and through self-reflection. Both women went on a journey to attain a wise state of being, and while Bender found her sense of place on her journey, Needleman is still just beginning to realize what she needs to do in order to find that sense of place. Many people have or will encounter those stages of the quest; therefore both perspectives, as seen in conjunction with the insights of Pannikar, are invaluable. e. Once Needleman continues to take these themes and directly incorporate them into her life and journey to the heart of w
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Approximate Word count = 1205
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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