“A second aspect of ‘forgetting’ was advanced some decades ago by the noted neurologist Julian Jaynes (1976), who outlined stages of cognitive learning in his speculative work on the evolution of subjective consciousness. In Chapter 1 ‘The Consciousness of Consciousness’ (pp. 21-47) Jaynes explains that as elementary steps of a learned process become unconscious (lost to or ‘forgotten’ by consciousness), this developing unconsciousness allows for an increase in expertise (i.e., without increasing unconsciousness, expertise could not develop). In his example, if an accomplished pianist were to suddenly have to consciously experience the beginner-level of playing –– where to place each finger on each key––there would be a return to a novice level of performance. Mastery relies on a great deal of information, at one time conscious, having become unconscious. This idea seems a common-sense truth for the craft in general.” Dr. Richard Gilbert, Poems of Consciousness, Red Moon Press, 2008.
Grandmaster Suh had this process summarized back in the middle 60s when he said, “Learn a lot, forget a lot, and one day you will know a lot.” Ahead of his time, he had a simple effective way of explaining how to become and an advanced person in almost any endeavor – in particular, to that of becoming a master of martial arts.
There is nothing that can replace the necessity of training. There is nothing as profound as becoming great at something you have chosen to do. And the formula is clear from Gilbert, Jaynes and Suh.
Learn a lot; Forget a lot; and one day, you will Know a Lot
The mystery of this lies in the way we study and use language. Since born, people begin to use language. It starts from day one (and maybe, earlier?) What is the process? It is this: learn a lot, forget a lot, and then, know a lot.
It might be impossible to write down a list of all the words you know. Yet, it isn’t impossible to choose just the right words when in a discussion, regardless of the topic. Words come out in a flow as though they are on the tip of your tongue at all times. But, the tip of a tongue is not where they are. They are stored in some mysterious place in the brain that allows you immediate access to any word that you know – have buried within.
It’s a mystery, in some way. And everything we learn becomes part of that mystery and remains in a readiness state within us at all times.
The more we place in that mystery, the more we will forget consciously. Mastery comes from the continuum of placing things into the mystery over and over … and over … until it is only perfection that comes out when called upon. This is why mastery does not feel like what you would think; often it feels as though you know nothing at all. Nevertheless, when needed, the knowledge you have perfected will immediately arise to your consciousness without delay or hesitation.
It’s a mystery; and, it is amazing. Enjoy the path to mastery.
I often experience this when returning to a beloved piece I once played. It doesn’t matter how advanced my piano technique has gotten in the years between playing that piece and sitting back down with it again – for the first few hours, I am back as a novice with the piece, but slowly, the memory that lives in my fingers and brain and was “forgotten” begins to come back to me, and I can get through the piece from start to finish. It doesn’t sound anywhere near as beautiful, nuanced and masterful as it once did, but I know I can get it back by continuing to place it into the mystery…loved this post. Thank you sir.
Thank you both for coming by, reading, and commenting. It’s great hearing your voices on this.