There can be no knowledge of oneself except in relationship - in relation to all of life. Why? Because, in truth, there is but a single body - the body of life. The enlightened wisdom that all beings seek is found in perfect relationship so intimate that there is no separation between known, knower and the knowing. In this knowledge we are the oak, and the one who cuts down the oak, and the bird who lives in the oak and the watcher of the oak.
Technology, information, knowledge, these all tend to give "mastery over" but not the wisdom of what to do with that mastery. If this partial knowing is developed lopsidedly, as within our culture, then there is deep alienation with ourselves, our bodies, nature. This alienation breeds an aggression whose hostility lashes out at the body of life. As the anorexic is at war with their embodiment, humanity is now at war with its enworldment.
The frenetic pace of technology allows for greater communication but less and less communion. Social media allows for huge amounts of talking but there is little true listening. To understand life in its wholeness, to understand yourself, or any "other", you must develop a tremendous stillness, capacity for listening, observation. For this you must face the addiction to stimulation that our culture offers to replace the loss of intimacy.
To know the world with open-hearted tenderness insures that one will indeed be broken hearted but also that one will know joy - both the joy of this world and an unborn joy beyond touch of decay or corruption. in this joy one discovers a love of live, a love in life, a love that pervades life. This Love of Life knows there must be relationship unspoiled by the wounds of memory. The mind, still, silent, without avoidance is swept through by the wildfire of Love and grief.
100 Days of Enlightened Mind by Traktung Khepa - Issuuhttps://issuu.com/traktung.khepa/docs/eye_to_form_is_only_love_original