Understanding

The common view of understanding is that it is basically an intellectual comprehension of some content of experience, perception, or thought. It is usually an insight or idea that can occur after an experience has ensued. We use the term understanding in a specific way that is particular to our view. By understanding we mean the insightful awareness of our experience. There is immediate contact with the particulars of our experience -- both inner and outer -- plus the comprehension of this content, a comprehension that is part of, and inseparable from, the immediate experience. Hence, it is not merely an intellectual comprehension, although such comprehension forms part of it. Since the insight is part of, and inseparable from, the immediate experience, it does not have the abstract quality characteristic of intellectual comprehension. (The Point of Existence, pg 486)

What is understanding then? How is it different from knowledge? Understanding means that you not only have knowledge of what is going on, you not only have the experience, but you also are in touch with the meaning of the experience. There is not just the knowledge of the fact of the experience itself, but also a cognitive appreciation of its significance… Understanding is thus the dynamic, creative flow of knowledge and knowing. Knowledge creatively transforms through the seeing of truth, and the truth is what transforms the knowledge from one form to another, taking it to a deeper, fuller, and more meaningful level. (Spacecruiser Inquiry, pg 64)

So when I say that I want to understand what’s going on, I don’t mean that I intend to think about it and come to a logical conclusion. I mean that I want to first let myself be present in the experience, feel the experience, be fully in touch with the elements of the experience. The more I am in touch with the elements of my experience, the more clearly the experience will reveal its patterns and meanings. This is so because experience is a manifestation within our consciousness, whose ground and nature is knowing luminosity, so being in touch with experience means being affected by that ground of knowing. This revelation of the patterns as an embodied experience is understanding. I can then formulate this experiential discrimination mentally in concepts and words. (Spacecruiser Inquiry, pg 239)

Understanding involves three elements: a full in-touchness with the fabric of experience, the precise discrimination of the various patterns of this fabric, and the insightful comprehension of the meaning and significance of these patterns and their interrelationships. (Spacecruiser Inquiry, pg 243)

Understanding and Being

Understanding an aspect of Being objectively means knowing it from its own perspective and not from one's own point of view, which is necessarily prejudiced by personal history. Objective understanding has the effect of altering the experience of the aspect, taking it to a new dimension of Essence. This dimension is that of objective understanding. (The Pearl Beyond Price, pg 356)

Understanding, mind and Being

Understanding, then, includes the mind becoming an expression or a channel for Being. Mind becomes connected to Being, not separate from it like it was when you were a child, or like it was when you were an adult just seeing your issues. At this level, understanding becomes the unity, the interface, the meeting of Being and mind. You are Being, but there is also awareness of the beingness. This consciousness of beingness is understanding. (Diamond Heart Book 3, pg 154)

Understanding yourself

When I say you need to understand yourselves, I do not mean that you should all start thinking about yourselves and become hunters pursuing issues and insights. What I mean is that you need to be compassionate and loving toward yourself and let yourself be. If you let yourself be, there will be a spontaneous curiosity about what arises. To simply live and rest and let yourself be, allows this spontaneous inquiry. When you are just being, you are not busy thinking, worrying, trying to figure things out. Your mind is clearer and emptier, and whatever truth that you need to understand about your situation is already there. (Diamond Heart Book 4, pg 26)