I was thinking about…

FREE KNOWLEDGE

By Andy Lee

While watching a recent livestream of the eclipse, something struck me powerfully beyond the celestial spectacle itself. It was these seven simple words from the presenting astronomy professor: “Knowledge should be shared freely, never hoarded.” He proclaimed his educational content would forever remain free for anyone to access.

Those seven words stopped me in my tracks, so refreshingly contrasted against our era’s incessant monetization and restriction of insights. Deep down, they resonated with my core beliefs about wisdom’s greater purpose.

Working in a technical field, I’ve seen firsthand how selfishly many of my co-workers guard their expertise. Those atop their specialized disciplines frequently adopt miserly postures, unwilling to freely illuminate those eager to learn and grow from their mastery. Whether driven by ego, insecurities, or greed, this gatekeeper mentality harms the broader quest for enlightenment.

Every time we choose to hoard knowledge rather than generously impart what we’ve learned, we actively impede collective progress. We squander brilliant potential through intellectual possessiveness rather than open sharing.

Don’t get me wrong, top experts deserve fair compensation for their skills. But that astronomer’s radical commitment to freely disseminating all educational content? That’s the enlightened mindset we need more of – treating wisdom as an open stream to uplift all rather than a stagnant reservoir guarded greedily.

So in my own pursuits, I strive to embrace that open source ethos. I aim to hydrate any mind hungry to grow from my own insights and experience, no paywalls or strings attached. Accelerating enlightenment’s proliferation needs prioritizing over commoditizing understanding.

At the end of the day, what’s more impactful than empowering those around you while continually refreshing your own wisdom? Knowledge flourishes through abundant circulation, not enforced scarcity. We all must embody that truth by defaulting to freely sharing the wealth.

Stay learned, keep sharing! 📚✨