The Unwise Wise
Proudly, fiercely, they guarded wisdom;
wisdom that had outlasted fashion,
the cults, the sects, the mass conversions,
the messaiahs, and the promises;
They had gathered this knowledge
in the days of garnered wisdom
250 years before that guy from Galilee;
and then around twice his lifetime upon earth
as numbers dwindled, they stored this knowledge
in a cave not so far from Jericho,
near the sea that died into a lake.
Discipline, ritual, held them together;
and cleanliness; the communal latrine
was 1,000 cubits or a little more, say half a mile,
from the city where they lived; I guess
some walked, some ran
there from Qumran
– except on Saturdays, when
they were not allowed to leave the town
and therefore did not defecate that day..
then on return from the latrine, their faeces neatly buried,
a ritual, totally immersed bathing was required.
Alas, if these wise men had asked the Arab Bedouins
they would have known that, had they left their faeces
uncovered in the sun, it would have killed
the roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms, pinworms,
which, walked back on their feet and thriving in the ritual bath, slowly
killed this community of wise men from inside,
so that only 6 percent lived beyond forty years;
eventually depositing their wisdom on scrolls
(how few men left to place them there, that solemn day?)
to be uncovered after nearly two millennia
darkly in a cave.
That is the story of Qumran. I guess it's one
for those who say, what you live by, that, you die by;
in this case, ritual.
poem by Michael Shepherd

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Related quotes
The Hair
The ritual evanesced when we observed it,
The ritual completed when our lice grew.
The head was full of lice, I hear them and saw each of them,
Restraining the children with feet, the arms also.
Inexorable lice swayed in the hair of our heads
Until the ritual was entire.
What is this ritual?
The ritual is of the dressing of hair,
Or the cutting of hair by the hairdresser.
poem by Naveed Akram

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The Reason And Cause For Their Pain
Everyday!
Everyday as if a ritual,
Someone is complaining...
About being misunderstood.
Everyday as if a ritual,
Fault is being made...
About someone else.
Everyday as if a ritual,
People are accused...
For something they didn't do.
Everyday!
Everyday as if a ritual,
Some believes they have the right...
To excuse themselves of responsibility.
And everyday,
Someone is left to feel alone...
Still not getting the connection,
Between their misdeeds...
Aches and pains.
And those heartbreaks they receive,
They have come to perceive...
No one else has known!
And everyday without fail,
As sure as the ticking of a clock is heard...
These people will not see themselves,
The reason and cause for their pain.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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Chinese Wisdom
In crisis, wisdom growth,
And gained.
Intelligence endowed,
But wisdom is learned.
Wise men listen more,
Talk no nonsense.
Wise men may be learned
But learned men may not be wise.
A silent fool can pass for a wise man.
Silence is golden & wise,
Silence is the trusted friend of wisdom.
It is easy to blame our memory
when our judgment is at fault.
It takes a tree ten years to mature;
It takes a man one hundred years to form.
We grow old fast,
We grow wise slowly.
Youth can look only forward,
but age can also look backward.
Maturity and wisdom
take a lifetime to achieve.
Achieving maturity does not
Grow with age.
Wisdom grows when
Ones learned to avoid the wrongs.
Stand for the rights.
Biggest flaw of ones
Has a lot of flaws and
Not correcting them,
Not avoiding them.
Life is a learning journey
To discover who we are,
Learning as if life is
one continuous lesson.
Wisdom is attained by learning
when to hold one’s tongue.
Discretion is the trusted friend of wisdom.
A wise head must possess a closed mouth.
Compiled & adapted by Lawrence Hiung
poem by Lawrence Hiung

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Pukllay Inter-Community Awareness
Pukllay harmony stresses
it is important to ritual fight
to reinforce separate entities
purpose entire point
of ritual conflict
is to resolution meet
together afterward
to united celebrate
union as one people
to embody
the complementarity
of opposites
distinction between
two communities
is clearly defined
then brought
together to form
a single entity
sense inter-community
awareness respect
emerge in wisdom tolerant
the purpose to create
tinkuy a sense of unity
among the participants
in survival Andes
wise encounters
of differing energies
like ‘Yawar Mayu' rivers
of symbolic blood offerings
ensure tinku social harmonies
poem by Terence George Craddock

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Pukllay Harmony Restoration Blood Battles
sport many sports
embody a ritual of combat
trial by body muscles
instead of blood
letting battles in times
of repetitive wars
Andean festival of Pukllay
incorporated a time of ritual battles
between neighboring communities
‘Yawar Mayu' offering river of blood
in restored harmony cleansed a years
ill will between neighboring communities
conquering Spanish outlawed
community ritual battles of Pukllay
continued in remote Andean regions
battles were held at boundaries
between neighboring communities
men from the two communities
gathered to ritual battles fight
while women would sing songs
encouraging their local men
to stand to be brave to not
fear the river of blood
as battle took various forms
two opposing neighboring sides
might throw hard unripe fruit
or men might form opposing lines
strike neighboring men
with their warak'a slings
or fight close with staffs
what was aim important
some blood must be spilt
as an offering to Pachamama
blood offerings
to the great Being
who is mother earth
blood offerings
to the Apus
the Beings
who are majestic
mountain peaks
to Sacred Sites
what if a man died
during ‘Yawar Mayu' fight
a ritual rare event
his body was buried
as further offering on site
to the sacred Beings
in many modern sports skill
courage endurance even blood
is offered up in necessary games
there is a human need to vent
frustrations disharmony ill will
community balance restored
poem by Terence George Craddock

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Wisdom and Understanding.
King Solomon, the wise one said,
Find wisdom, get understanding my beloved.
The more knowledge you pick up in time,
Receive more self confidence, takes you out of the grime.
Wisdom cannot be given, the laws of life has to be observed,
Sometimes on the hard way, but eventually it will be deserved,
As knowledge is power, eventually you see the reality
And you live your life in freedom, peace and dignity.
Keep on observing and learning everything on your way,
Be patient, never too proud, only humble, this I can say.
Eventually you will see the light,
And you will realize your power and might.
Which were always with you. that's your birth right.
poem by LaSoaphia QuXazs

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Knowledge Shall Increase
Learned people in the world gain more knowledge as each day goes by,
Unfortunately they never seem to acknowledge The Lord up in the sky.
Diplomas, certificates, and achievements are their present disguise,
But, The Lord up above will make foolishness the wisdom of the wise.
In the Bible the prophet Daniel stated that knowledge would increase,
However, in light of this increasing knowledge where is their peace.
Even in this world there's a peace to be found, this you can be sure,
But this peace is not of the world, but in the knowledge of The Lord.
The Lord also spoke of a famine that will spread throughout the land,
But his is not the normal famine of food that is known to common man.
It will be a spiritual famine, a worldwide famine of God's Holy Word,
Men's hearts will become harder, even some of those who have heard.
Soon all of the knowledge of the earth will be a thing of the past,
While only the knowledge of The Lord through all Eternity will last.
Man's wisdom and knowledge can be necessary down here on the earth,
But the knowledge for Heaven is higher and must include a New Birth.
This knowledge required for Eternity you will find in only one place,
It is found in God's Holy Bible, which we received through His Grace.
This knowledge is essential for everyone, when all is said and done,
For the only knowledge that will save you, is knowledge of The Son.
(Copyright © 06/2002)
Two Kinds of Wisdom
Words of wisdom can indeed, speak to the heart’s most inner need,
But you must be aware my friend, where words take you in the end.
For earthly wisdom can mislead, the heart seeking an earthly need.
While wisdom sent from up above, guides you in God’s perfect love.
Wisdom comes from many schools, some are wise, some are fools,
Even teachings that sound wise, could be packaged in eternal lies.
Earthly wisdom tells you friend, don’t be concerned about your end,
Just live your life for number one, fill each day with pleasure and fun.
Godly wisdom fills you with love, while keeping your mind up above,
God helps you each day to live, knowing that you have more to give.
Worldly wisdom says fill your life, with things that cause much strife.
It tells you to grab the biggest toy, but in the end you’ll have no joy.
Godly wisdom through sacrifice, prepares you for your Eternal Life.
With this wisdom men shall see, Jesus Christ as they enter Eternity.
In the end all worldly wisdom, to the Truth of God it shall succumb.
When men try embracing The Son, He will say what’s done is done.
All the worldly wisdom down here, has no room for The Lord, I fear,
With the wisdom they think wise, the Lord we love, they just despise.
The same Lord who we hold dear, has let us know His return is near,
And Godly wisdom fixes our eyes, upon Christ without any comprise.
Teachable For God
Being teachable in God’s eyes, shall lead believers to be wise,
From instruction, read and heard, in the Truths of God’s Word,
God’s instruction we must heed, truly the believer’s daily need,
From The Eternal Word of God, to be lived in this day we trod.
In His wisdom we learn how, to apply instruction here and now,
Knowledge from God, we receive, when His Truths, we believe,
Gaining skill, in how to live, from the Truths the Scriptures give,
Growing from our initial salvation, as we heed God’s revelation.
To live wisely in a world of sin, believers need to use discipline,
Received knowledge of The Lord, as Truth must not be ignored,
But as believers in Jesus Christ, we must apply Truth to our life,
So as to walk in Godly Wisdom, living for His coming Kingdom.
Building a foundation to live by, must be anchored from on high,
As God’s knowledge we embrace, for living in this Age of Grace,
The fear of God, still is has part, in serving God with all our heart,
As Godly Wisdom, will truly begin, through a reverent fear of Him.
Our hearts with wisdom, God shall fill, when we submit to His Will,
Being led by His staff and rod, we’re filled with the Truths of God,
As believers listen and receive, to the Truths we know and believe,
Taught by His Holy Spirit within, we shall live a Godly Life for Him.
(Copyright ©07/2011)
But, you know, they don't enjoy the dinner hour together. It's just not as much of a ritual at night and it's interesting. I think the ritual is taking place perhaps more in the morning.
quote by Katie Couric

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Ritual is the way you carry the presence of the sacred. Ritual is the spark that must not go out.
quote by Christina Baldwin

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The invisible wisdom of God.........
Do we know the truth of heaven and our God's love?
Do we understand the knowledge of invisible wisdom of God?
We must understand that God's wisdom rests on the
foundation of spiritual practice of compassion and love
Learning spiritual power and prayers could make us
to realize the truth of heaven and God's love
We all born with God's love and care at the beginning
and the problem arises how to remain till our end
Our spiritual journey starts with understanding on God's trust
and continue with perception of God's precepts till the end
The spiritual perfection could be achieved not only by meditation
but also teaching others to reach the knowledge of wisdom
That is why God appointed wisdom as his goal for mankind
God loves his people and enjoy their knowledge in wisdom
and he feels proud of his rational creation on earth
Our choice is live with the wisdom to delight in God
or choose path of that leads to miserable life on earth.
poem by Ravi Sathasivam

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Wisdom’s value
Wisdom is felt, not learnt.
Wisdom begins at the end;
Wisdom is not wise in time;
Why must you value the wisdom?
05.09.2005
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

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0006 Saraswati
The name means
wisdom. Perhaps
we should leave it there. For
the human mind loves
to bring the heavenly
down to earth; then bury it:
maybe not wisdom, did they say –
who worships wisdom in these foolish days?
Maybe a goddess then?
We’ll name our greatest river
after her; that will help men
to remember wisdom
which flows from heaven
to the tops of the unreachable snowed
Himalayas, flows down and nourishes
the earth that nourishes the seeds
that yield the plants
that bring life to men
who meet together on her banks
and build a whole Harappan
civilisation – so, look –
she’s wisdom, and a goddess, and river bringing life itself
and so she’s in the heart
of every Indian.
so far, so good; but then –
was it anger in the heavens,
that made the lovely goddess
lift her veil across her face?
conceal her wisdom? Was it
that men forgot to honour her?
Or was it some tectonic plate, slightly tipping,
that turned the fertile Sindh and Rajasthan
into deserts? And the river Saraswati
first became not a river, but
a line of pools, needing the yearly
tribute from the rains of mercy,
brought by men’s sacrifice? And then,
finally disappeared?
and so the goddess of wisdom
who is eternal wisdom
and a river, is now
the goddess of the wisdom that’s
no longer seen so gracefully flowing there; invisible.
Maybe this purdah
is more dignified; we know she’s there,
if we honour her enough
and need her.
The story is not over, though:
the satellites have photographed
her ghost; a veiled figure seen
slipping out in the cool half-light of dawn,
waterpot on shoulder; she knows
that deep underground, her wise water
waits in stone caverns beneath the earth
these 3,500 years; to be drawn on
by wise engineers, to drink again
with awe, with gratitude, or thoughtless…
Wisdom waits,
living a life so deep in poetry,
in metaphor,
wisdom, goddess, water. How
she must love to live
lightly veiled in silken speech,
quietly in the heart, like
metaphor itself.
poem by Michael Shepherd

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Teaching XVIII
Then said a teacher, "Speak to us of Teaching."
And he said:
No man can reveal to you aught but that which already lies half asleep in the dawning of our knowledge.
The teacher who walks in the shadow of the temple, among his followers, gives not of his wisdom but rather of his faith and his lovingness.
If he is indeed wise he does not bid you enter the house of wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your own mind.
The astronomer may speak to you of his understanding of space, but he cannot give you his understanding.
The musician may sing to you of the rhythm which is in all space, but he cannot give you the ear which arrests the rhythm nor the voice that echoes it.
And he who is versed in the science of numbers can tell of the regions of weight and measure, but he cannot conduct you thither.
For the vision of one man lends not its wings to another man.
And even as each one of you stands alone in God's knowledge, so must each one of you be alone in his knowledge of God and in his understanding of the earth.
poem by Khalil Gibran

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Treatments
Six months treatment with oil and myrrh,
Six months treatment with perfumes and cosmetics,
But wisdom is better than rubies!
The treaments of our lives is like the linen from Egypt.
Wisdom is my sister and i am with the lovers of summer,
Understandiing is my kinswoman and it is like the flowers of spring;
But my fruit is better than gold!
Like the eaters of winter and the players of summer,
Ethiopia and Seba are for a price;
But i have six months of treatments with my mind on the moon too.
Drinkers of autumn and the life on the seas,
Like a ritual bath without hope;
But before the dark black of the night,
You need six months of treatments before the flood.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis

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Wisdom and Fact
Propaganda painter
No Saint was S T Gill
Knowing that in England
Wisdom was not bliss
Wise man down in Adelaide
Thought he could alter this.
He packed his pics
With doctored bliss
That lured folks to Australia.
His bliss they found there lacking.
With wisdom still in tact
They sent the painter packing-
To goldfields, Melbourne, Sydney-this
Wise con-man died in failure:
Wiser knowing though for sure
That wisdom can't be bliss
When wisdom's faced with fact.
poem by Douglas Scotney

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The Truth Will Give You Love
Love is wise, but how wise?
Real love can live without the magic of sex?
Love is the wisdom of two people
Sex is the lust of many
A woman the gift...a wise person
Understands less sex.
Women are not always willing to be on there back
A relationship is not a running track
But a place to be laid and admired from the sack.
A man as I was told... is bold for the female hole
Wisdom did him no good...
Born for sex from the hood...
Ride'em, feed'em, and Puck'em
That is how it was told
But the wisdom of the gift
Put into man a shift...
Now most men see love with both eyes and hope
Instead of with one eye and the hole as dope.
The gift is a shadow of a man's smile..
A woman's love is the wisdom we both learn to live and grow with
Now that most men understand that woman is woman
And man is man...Let us try to do the best we can....
Less sex on demand.
whisperkwane
poem by whisperkwane Lamb

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These days people seek knowledge, not wisdom. Knowledge is of the past, wisdom is of the future.
quote by Vernon Cooper

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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And then there were none
There were ten
Waiting by the road
Ready for a journey
Of an entire lifetime
The ten crossed the lake,
But the tenth was too scared
He left the others to their fates
And departed with some joy.
And then there were nine
Walking by the road,
Engrossed in the journey
Of an entire lifetime
The nine walked over a bridge
But the ninth saw a beauty
Pursued her, leaving the rest
And sealed his own fate
And then there were eight
Walking by the road,
Engrossed in the journey
Of an entire lifetime.
As they walked by the gorge,
The eighth saw a tree
Laden with fruits. Hunger
Consumed his life away
And then there were seven
Walking by the road,
Engrossed in the journey
Of an entire lifetime.
As they walked by the mountain
Cold consumed their hearts.
The seventh saw a route
To escape from the way.
And then there were six
Walking by the road,
Engrossed in the journey
Of an entire lifetime.
The trail went on and on
Never showed a sign of ending
The sixth lost all hope
And left the party, disgruntled.
And then there were five
Walking by the road,
Engrossed in the journey
Of an entire lifetime.
As they walked by the desert
Their throats parched
The fifth simply
Lost the will to carry on.
And then there were four
Walking by the road,
Engrossed in the journey
Of an entire lifetime.
They walked by the river..
And the fourth saw
His family dead. Grief
Caused him to kill himself.
And then there were three
Walking by the road,
Engrossed in the journey
Of an entire lifetime.
They walked into the cave
And the third saw gold.
Left the journey and
Retired to a new world.
And then there were two
Walking by the road,
Engrossed in the journey
Of an entire lifetime.
They walked by the plain
Feet overcome with pain
They began to hate the other
And the second lay dead.
And then there was one
Walking by the road,
Engrossed in the journey
Of an entire lifetime.
He struggled to reach the box
His left hand stretched
But at the moment of glory
His wounds killed him.
And then there were none.
Walking by the road,
Consumed by the journey
Of an entire lifetime.
poem by Devdan Vaidyanathan

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