What are the distinctions between knowing, believing, feeling, intuiting, and having an opinion?
Are there different types of knowing, different levels of feeling? Do they have different centers in the body? That is, when you are thinking analytically, does it seem to come from a different place in the body than when you have a deep feeling?
You know when an individual knows it comes from knowledge they have of a certain subject or question. To believe in something is when they think a certain issue may be right, from their very own thoughts. A feeling is when you trust your instincts like th going with your gut. People believe and think they know and like to share what they think is right in an opinion.
I think that:
KNOWING is having evidence that something is true or a fact, while
BELIEVING is having a personal faith that something is true or untrue.
A FEELING is a specific emotional state or a reaction to something, and INTUITING is considering that something is a fact or sensing that it is, without conscious reasoning.
While HAVING AN OPINION is a personal view about someone or something that doesn’t rely on adequate certainty.
Very nice and well said. I have a *feeling* to visit your profile.
EP,
I think that she is a very nice and kind person.
You are perceptive, Manatita. I am now following her writings as I would like to see what else she has to say!
Very interesting!
I think "perception" will encompass all.
"Knowing", you perceive that you fully understand the topic.
"Believing", you perceive that the topic is true.
"Feeling ", you perceive experiencing the emotion.
"Intuiting", you perceive having a hunch.
"Opinion", you perceive that you are right.
Whatever term we use, it originates from the mind.
Bingo! Hit the nail on the head here.
Bravo! And thank You. : )
Excellent. Variations or distinctions of perception.
I agree with perception and that the other terms are all inclusive.
This one would be best solved with the use of a Websters dictionary.
I appreciate your comment and would not expect you to know my intention in asking the question. Mostly I ask because I enjoy when people reach into their own inner resources to give an answer. It is to share what we think or feel, not what W. says.
I think it impossible to answer this question from an effort to understand how different people use language. For example, I know two Zen masters. One says, "Drop understanding and know." The other says, "Drop knowing, and understand." Both are saying the same thing, but they chose different English words for translating the same original understanding.
In the system I use & teach I link these through neuroscience. We have 6 semi-independent neural centers (which also correspond to chakras & have locations in the body.) Each has its own way of "knowing."
The belly brain is in the nerve comples that includes a center just below the navel, and also the solar plexus. It is the site of gut feelings (physical intuition) & the third chakra. It's message is usually, "I like this (I want to eat it)"; "I reject this (it makes me want to throw up)"; or "I don't care about this one way or another (I'm cool, & it's not food). We inherited this brain from early sea creatures like the sea cucumber, who's neural networks would approach food, avoid danger & poison, and otherwise just happily swim along.
Feeling is the response of the right brain, the center of experiential living, emotion, motivation, & creativity, our mammalian brain.
Knowing (in the intellectual sense) is a left-brain function from the uniquely human function of logic, mathematics, and linguistic, analytic thinking.
Opinions arise from a normal function of the left-brain (logic and understanding of facts), right-brain (felt experience and emotion) & reptilian brain (fear & survival concerns that may or may not be involved with the issue.)
Intuiting can arise from any of the brains. Gut intuition is the belly-brain. A warning sign (hairs standing up on the back of our necks) is the reptilian brain protecting us. Creative intuition is from the right brain. Mathematical intuition and thinking insight arise from the left brain.
Most people have not activated their heart-brain in an ongoing way. It provides intiutions about love and passion. (heart chakra)
Most people have not activated the pre-frontal cortex in an ongoing way. It provides intuitions about spirit and life purpose and direction. (third eye, sixth chakra)
Most people have not activated their neocortex, source of integrated intuition, sense of life purpose and passion, of life in harmony.
When we activate heart chakra, pre-frontal cortex and neocortex experience frequent intuition & integrated knowing. Jung: Ultimately, you just know.
Another great perspective! You introduced some fascinating insights.
I know( experience) that feelings(emotions) can be brought forward through intuitive( inner perceptive thought.) I believe(conviction) that at times, all can be connected.This is my (opinion) based on my life experience. and of-course there are different levels and types of knowledge, the foundation of knowing...
Knowing is essentially inner experience. I have a mango and tell you about it. However, it is only after I have tasted it, that I can truly say that the mango is sweet. Spiritual experiences are nectar-sweet and is based on knowledge.
I believe that there is a place called the north pole. I have not been there, but my belief is based on what others tell me or what I read and see (outer experience).
Intuition comes from the soul and is very sudden and quick. Rather like a flash.
I was almost attacked recently, and in a flash I knew what to do. This I did with complete surrender, and the danger was averted. My mother died in 2011. She was fine two days before she died, but told my brother that she was going to the other world. She asked him to call us all, but he took it as a joke. By the time I got the message two days later, she was gone.
Analysis comes from the mind, and feeling in general comes from the mind. People do speak of a 'feel' though, or a 'gut feeling' when they sometimes mean intuition. 'Feelings' can come from the heart centre or what in Sri Chinmoy's philosophy, we call the 'vital' the seat of lower and higher emotions.
All opinions are related to thinking, although some may be based on inner experience. Simply because the individual, like I am doing, is telling it to you. Real knowledge is usually experienced in silence and comes from the psychic or spiritual heart, the home of the Soul.
Magnificent. It is significant to address distinctions between what we mean by feeling, emotion and intuition. A common understanding is needed for real communication. It is clear from my experience that the intuitive voice comes from a deeper place.
A complex question indeed; I do not know if I can offer much; however, I believe I can offer some clarity and keep in mind, I do feel the need to anwser this. Intuitively your most Emanative, may understand that perhaps all I can offer is an opinion based on a unique experience. Here goes...
Perhaps, you are onto something when you mention the most pertinent question, "does it seem to come from a different place in the body."
I propose more qualitatively than quantitatively that deep feelings resonate from multiple areas of our brain; not unlike a light show whereas, lesser feelings probably come from a smaller less impressive light show within our brain...
Intuition seems to develop not unlike the revelation of understanding "the big picture" in other words the mass of information is active in our grey matter and freely associates (not unlike atoms) and these new associations become either (a) the so called big picture (b) intuition (c) even perhaps so called "gut" feelings. Research is needed...
Sincerely I say that you did offer much. I read it three times. The answers from all are beginning to freely associate into a bigger picture. 20 yrs ago I asked myself these questions and now the responses here are sparking me to go inside again....
Indeed, you are on to something big; never forget that Einstein worked in a Swiss patent office and part of his job was to discern if the incoming ideas were indeed patentable...
Einstein evaluated many patents for systems that would synchronize all the railway clocks in Europe, with one central authority. & he saw that clocks at different locations cannot be synchronized, that time in each location is true & relative
His answer is nice, EP, but he is smart enough to use words like 'complex' and 'research'. Thus admitting the difficultly here. We are all using our minds. Intuition is beyond the realm of the mind. Remain blessed.
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