Man of Knowledge

“A man of knowledge is one who has followed truthfully the hardships of learning,” he said. “A man who has, without rushing or without faltering, gone as far as he can in unravelling the secrets of power and knowledge.” 

“Can anyone be a man of knowledge?” 

“No, not anyone.” 

“Then what must a man do to become a man of knowledge?” 

“He must challenge and defeat his four natural enemies.” 

“Will he be a man of knowledge after defeating these four enemies?”

 

“Yes. A man can call himself a man of knowledge only if he is capable of defeating all four of them.” 

“Then, can anybody who defeats these enemies be a man of knowledge?” 

“Anybody who defeats them becomes a man of knowledge.”

“But are there any special requirements a man must fulfill before fighting with these enemies?” 

“No. Anyone can try to become a man of knowledge; very few men actually succeed, but that is only natural. The enemies a man encounters on the path of learning to become a man of knowledge are truly formidable; most men succumb to them.” 

I asked him if he could use witchcraft or divination to see the outcome of the battle. 

He flatly stated that the result of the struggle could not be foreseen by any means, because becoming a man of knowledge was a temporary thing. When I asked him to explain this point, he replied: “To be a man of knowledge has no permanence. One is never a man of knowledge, not really. Rather, one becomes a man of knowledge for a very brief instant, after defeating the four natural enemies.” 

“You must tell me, don Juan, what kind of enemies they are.” He did not answer.

Visit here to read about the Four Natural Enemies for a Man of Knowledge.

Warrior of Lite