To Learn and to Understand. (A)

It is one thing to learn (apprehend) and quiet another thing to understand (Comprehend). In learning you take in a thing by your surface mind and it is something that comes in from outside. You do not absorb it or make it wholly your own, and if you are not mindful, leave it aside for some time it goes clean out of your memory. Understanding on the other hand is when you absorb it, get it live it in your consciousness within. when you have understood a thing in its true sense you never forget it, it never leaves you, it has become an element of your consciousness. example You read Einstein, read over and over again his formulas and equations and even commit them to memory- learn by rote; but after a time, if you loose touch with them, they vanish from your mind or  become very vague and may be you have to start all over again. but if you entered into the perception these forms embody, the inner principle that determine them. if Einsteinian's consciousness became  in some way your consciousness you would have understood and would never forget. it would not be a lesson but an experience. What is needed as we can see is the inner awakening by which you live a thing, identify yourself with it, unless there is this awakening this openness in the consciousness, however much you may learn a thing like a lesson thrust on you it would not enter you may learn but eventually it is forgotten.
One comprehends only what one already possesses, you must be involved make it your habit make it your nature you must have some thing of it at least of what you want to know and understand. Your mind should be tuned to the object you wish to understand to seize. the inner spark should be there to make it possible to receive the light outside and beyond.
 to be continued.