ANIMISM

I THOUGHT I KNEW IT

PRESUMPTIVE KNOWLEDGE

It is a bit disturbing to catch myself assuming I know a subject to the point I don’t even think about the subject. I simply allow the file in my mind under the title of the subject to immediately spread across the screen. I’ve taken this imagery for granted so long I believe I no longer need to look it over.

That is the first clue that I am missing something. Anytime, every time, I catch myself even considering for a moment that I might know everything about anything, I should know at that moment that I am wrong, and often very badly wrong.

When we presume that we have knowledge we do not have, we have allowed ego to lead us into a foolish trap. Presumed knowledge can be amongst our most dangerous mental conditions.

I allowed the presumption that Animism was simple and I knew what it meant. I was very wrong. Spending an hour on the net perusing the term “animism”, I quickly began to realize the vast amount of innuendo and subtlety that is involved in this completely natural, ancient human understanding of the world.

— — —

Now what? Do I launch into my current understanding of Animism, or simply shut up and say, “Home work: do your Google Search”.

If you know me, you know what I chose — right, I write. I mean, why else am I here but to read and write? (Perhaps to risk thinking out loud?)