“When clever is on the outside…”

When clever is on the outside stupid is on the inside.
And when stupid is on the outside, clever is on the inside.

Swami Maheshananda

This quote stands out as one of the most powerful lessons I ever took from Swamiji.

Swamiji visited this theme with me repeatedly, during a period when I was working in India as a travel journalist. The nature of my work required me to be curious, to find out facts – and yet inside I felt a need to project an image of sophistication.

Swamiji’s language here may appear harsh – we don’t like to be called “stupid”. However, the meaning made sense to me almost immediately.

When we project an image of being knowledgable – when “clever is on the outside” – we close down the opportunity to learn. You will not explain to me what you believe me to already know, so when I act as though I already possess knowledge, I do not benefit from gaining your knowledge.

In other words, “stupid is on the inside”.

Learning occurs when we allow ourselves to admit our lack of knowledge. Even though we risk appearing foolish, ignorant or ill-informed, when we admit that we do not know – in other words, when “stupid is on the outside” – we create the space within ourselves for learning, and allow clever to be inside.

It’s a lesson I still remind myself of, and quote frequently to other people, when I need to remind myself of the importance of staying curious, and allowing stupid to be on the outside.