K as Knowledge (Knowledge vs. Understanding)
What Winnie-the-Pooh knows, do we?
If A.A. Milne knew that the kind, lovely, and innocent bear, Winnie-the-Pooh, he created in 1926 would 90 years later be maliciously linked to the Communist Party leader and dictator, Xi Jinping, Pooh would never have been born.
I really can’t see any resemblance between Pooh and Xi Jinping. The only similarity is their weight. But, there are plenty of chubby cartoon characters to choose from. How about Po from Kung-Fu Panda? Homer Simpson? Shrek? Doraemon?
Why Pooh? Perhaps because one represents heaven, and the other is synonymous with hell?
Unlike Xi Jinping, Pooh is intelligent. For example, he knew exactly the difference between ‘Knowledge’ and ‘Understanding’.
The following comics perfectly and aptly depict the wisdom of Winnie-the-Pooh. The kid has the knowledge of Pythagorean Theorem. He probably knows many other complex theorems too, and can memorize and recite all mathematical formulas correctly. But, he does not have an understanding of the Pythagorean Theorem. He cannot transform knowledge into ability. He is unable to apply his knowledge to solve an actual problem.
In the workplace, I have met many bosses and colleagues like this kid. They talked a lot and seem very knowledgeable. However, they are completely incapable of getting any job done properly and of solving problems.
I disagree with Osho’s views on religion and spirituality. However, he has very incisive views on some senior intellectuals in today's world. These people have degrees from prestigious schools, and appear knowledgeable. But, in fact, they are extremely ignorant (excerpted from The Path of Intelligence at www.osho.com):
Knowing gives you understanding; knowledge only gives you a feeling of understanding without giving you real understanding. Knowledge only gives you a feeling that you know, and you don’t know at all. You can go on accumulating knowledge as much as you want, you can go on hoarding, you can become very, very knowledgeable. You can write books, you can have degrees, you can have PhDs, D.Litts., and still you remain the same ignorant, stupid person you have always been. Those degrees don’t change you; they can’t change you. In fact, your stupidity becomes stronger: it has degrees now! It can prove itself through certificates. It cannot prove through life, but it can prove through the certificates. It cannot prove in any other way, but it will carry degrees, certificates, recognitions from the society. People think you know, and you also think you know.
Through knowledge, your memory becomes bigger and bigger, but your intelligence does not become bigger. Sometimes, it happens when you don’t know much, when you are not very knowledgeable, that you will have to be intelligent in some moments.
Osho gave a real example proving his point.
A woman bought a tin of fruit but she could not open the tin. She did not know how to. So, she rushed to her study to look in the cookbook. By the time she looked in the book and found out the page and the reference, and came rushing back ready to open the tin, the servant had already opened it.
She asked, “But how did you do it?”
The servant said, “Madam, when you can’t read, you have to use your mind.”
I have many bosses and colleagues like the woman in Osho’s example. The difference is that when a situation arises, these people don’t try to find a solution at all. They didn’t know where or how to start. Or, worse, they don’t even bother to think.
As Osho recounted, many of these people have fancy academic qualifications and may also have worked for large and multinational corporations. The company therefore thinks they know it all; they also think they’re great geniuses, the rising stars of the company! But these people can't even do a little thing well.
Usually, such people are particularly easy to be recognized, and then promoted. After these people jumped to the top, they hired people who were just like themselves.
“All that glitters is not gold.” The company continues in a vicious circle until it fails.
That’s why I said Winnie-the-Pooh is intelligent. He knew the difference between ‘Knowledge’ and ‘Understanding’ and how to tell them apart. But, many well-known and large multinational corporations cannot do it!