If you map your life on a graph, with one axis for the passage of time and the other axis for the growth of knowledge, it describes an arc. The curve of the arc might dip in places and soar in others, but over a life-time, under the curve of this arc, we build and furnish our lives.

Noah knew there was a flood coming; he knew he had to build an ark, and he knew how to build it well. We know that life holds great uncertainties. We know we have to be prepared. And we spend our lives gathering knowledge to live as best we can.

Knowledge shapes the way we think. And the way we think rules the way we act, the way we hope, the way we dream. Only knowledge initiates action. If we didn't know about a beautiful place, we'd have no desire to go and see the place.

In this Breathing Space module, we'll take some time to wonder about knowledge. We'll wonder about how we know and what we know. We'll wonder why Socrates said that the best knowledge is knowing that we know nothing. We'll wonder what Einstein meant when he said "If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker."

The wonder of knowledge is that when it is ordinary, it informs; that when it is new, it reforms; that when it is true, it transforms; and that when it is wrong, it deforms. The real wonder of knowledge is that it is a fire – warming and illuminating, shaping and re-shaping the arc of our lives.

"… there is nothing purer than knowledge and only with knowledge can one experience the fullness of being ... Once the knowledge is fulfilled no shortcomings will prevail and this is certain. Total elimination of misery and experience of absolute bliss is possible only through knowledge. In this is the ultimate fulfilment of human life."

Santananda Saraswati

Event Details

NAME: Breathing Space - Knower's arc

SPEAKER: Anthony Renshaw, Head of School, NSW & ACT Practical Philosophy

DATE: Sunday 8th August

TIME: 10:00am

VENUE: Hyde Park Towers, Level 1, 142-148 Elizabeth Street

TICKETS: $12.00 online; $15.00 at the door

Click HERE to book

Click HERE for a copy of the current brochure

Click HERE to find out more about BREATHING SPACE