Locating the continent of Australia on a map, seeing the Outback on video, and talking with friends about their recent trip there, should be enough to convince anyone that Australia does indeed exist. If you would ask them whether they ‘know’ Australia exists, they would all say yes. What they are expressing, however, is ‘belief’, because they have been ‘convinced’ by overwhelming ‘evidence’.
One can believe something is true and find out later that they were mistaken. A real-world example is Edgar Madison Welch. He was convinced by the internet that there was overwhelming evidence that a child sex trafficking ring was operating out of the basement of the Comet Pizzeria in DC. (If it’s on the internet, it’s got to be true, right?)
In June of 2017, convinced by this evidence, he took an AK-47 and a handgun into the pizzeria and shot off several rounds, only to find that the pizzeria had no basement, and there was no truth to this internet conspiracy theory. That misguided belief cost him 4 years in prison.
To truly know something requires no evidence or convincing. One can know something is true despite overwhelming evidence and the resulting belief of others to the contrary. How many times have you said or heard, “I just knew it, I just knew it!” or “I should have known better.” These statements usually come upon realization that a decision made by the all-convincing and persuasive head (believing) should have been made by the subtle and soft-speaking heart (knowing).
Believing is always evolving, but usually so slowly that it is only when looking back at one’s life that one notices the changes.
Knowing never changes. It is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Believing is external and superficial. Believing is imbued into us by family, friends, society and religion, even though we know better. It cannot penetrate to our inner core but remains on the surface until modified or replaced.
Knowing is internal and visceral. It is not affected or influenced by anything worldly. It is the ‘gut’ feeling often experienced when deciding on a course of action. It is the body’s internal GPS. Always listen to it, no matter what others may say or do to convince you otherwise.
Believing creates a virtual, perceptual reality. It is so convincing that we mistake it for the real thing.
Knowing is the real thing.
Believing, no matter how strongly and firmly it may be held, always carries with it some degree of doubt. Otherwise, it would be Knowing.
Knowing is the heart-felt feeling of 100% Certainty.
We are born and indoctrinated into a belief system imposed by family, friends, society and religious heritage.
We are born Knowing everything. All we need do is remember what we have forgotten. This is the essence of all learning.
Believing is intellectual and theoretical.
Knowing is instinctive and intuitive.
Believing is relative. You can believe slightly, overwhelmingly and everything in between.
Knowing is absolute. Either you know it, or you don’t.
Believing can cost you your life and your freedom.
Knowing can save your life and your freedom.
Believing tells you what you want to hear.
Knowing tells you what you need to hear.
Believing is unavoidable, as part of a finite, limited and relative existence.
Knowing, however, is our access to the infinite, the limitless and the absolute.
Believing is a megaphone blaring in your ear.
Knowing is a young child gently tugging at your leg.
Believing is hubris.
Knowing is humility.
Believing is opinion
Knowing is fact
Believing is limited and limiting.
Knowing has no limits.
Believing is expressed and defined by words.
Knowing can never be expressed or defined by words.
Believing starts to supplant Knowing at around the age of 4 or 5.
Knowing, however, remains within us always, and we can hear it whispering to us when we chose to listen, carefully and quietly.
Believing assumes impropriety, based on outward appearances, even when no impropriety is present.
Knowing can detect impropriety even when no outward appearances are present.
Believing resides in the mind for a reason or a season.
Knowing resides in the heart always and forever.
We dance round in a ring and suppose, but the secret sits in the middle and knows.
Robert Frost
If a lie is repeated often enough, it becomes the truth.
Anon
Article by Clayton Brown.
pearlsofperception2025@gmail.com
Believing vrs Knowing was written by author Clayton Brown, 72, who is approaching 50 years as a registered pharmacist. He has been actively engaged in metaphysical writing for the past five years. One of his early influences was the study of TM in 1993, taught to him by a student of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Various spiritual personalities and channels have continued to shape his spiritual journey throughout the years.
