What Is Knowing Versus Knowingness?

"This morning in the second meditation, working with the knowing, I found myself adding ‘knowingness’ to it. And it seemed like ‘knowingness’ helped me drop even more deeply into understanding. Rupert says: ‘If the word “knowingness” does it for you, then stick to it. Strictly speaking, knowing is a better word than knowingness. The reason I use the word “knowing” as opposed to “consciousness” or “awareness” is that -ness reduces the word “knowing” from a verb to a noun. “Knowingness” is a noun. “Knowing” is a verb. So knowing is an activity. Knowingness is an object. That’s why I say you’re objectifying or reifying the absolute by referring to it as consciousness, awareness or knowingness. It’s closer to refer to it as an activity rather than an object. Knowing rather than knowingness or consciousness. That’s why I prefer the word “knowing”. As I’ve said a number of times, it’s not important for words to be accurate. They must be evocative. So if the word “knowingness” works for you, then keep it.’"

From event 05 - 12 October, 2025 Seven-Day Retreat at Garrison Institute, 5–12 October 2025

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