Where is the wisdom we have lost?

“Where is the Life we have lost in Living?

Where is the Wisdom we have lost in Knowledge?

Where is the Knowledge we have lost in Information? "

~ TS Eliot

A unique aspect of information is that, the raw material, the process and the final product are all the same, information. Information combines with other bits of information mixing and blending to provide new information.  This helps explain why we have a continuing explosive growth of information, which is  continuously increasing both in quantum and complexity. 

Many of us have crossed the threshold of information overload. There is so much overload that our levels of comprehension and absorption are decreasing rapidly.  The information makes little or no sense. Even when we succeed in  wrapping our minds around the information, its already obsolete.

Like food, information has to be digested to be of any use. Too much food and the body rejects it. Continue with overfeeding it and the body will one day collapse.  Information is food for the mind. Too hard or too much to digest and the mind trips. Excess information often kills knowledge.

Simplicity not complexity, less not more is the answer.

An obvious human trait, 'when the stomach is empty we have only one problem. When the stomach is full we have numerous problems.'

Data is not information, Information is not knowledge and knowledge is not wisdom. 

Breathing and existing or simply acquiring things and relationships is not living and just living is not Life.

Then arises a profound question, 'What then is life?'

I don't know. Do you?

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Nobel Prize winner in literature, Born into a prominent Boston Brahmin family, TS Eliot,  (1888 - 1965), was an essayist, publisher, playwright, literary and social critic, and "one of the twentieth century's major poets.

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My thanks to my wise and noble friend, Tina Mehta, who inspired me to write this article.

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