The three-fold path to wisdom

According to Confucius there are three ways to acquire wisdom: “First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” Since Confucius is held in such high regard, it obviously would be a good idea to “reflect” on what he has say about wisdom. 
       The most noble way to learn, he says, is by reflection, that is, by thinking about some issue that, as yet, is unclear in your mind. I believe we tend to reflect on things that are of genuine importance in our life. For example, if you are deep into theology you will repeatedly turn your attention to such issues as, for instance, how God reveals himself in various times throughout history. Is the period of “dreams and visions” a thing of the past or does God still guide by angelic visions? As you keep turning it over in your mind there may come a sudden “Aha!” when the various pieces will fall into place and a new insight into how God acts will emerge. 
       There was an earlier time when the purpose of higher education was not so much to tell students about the What’s of life, but to show them how to discover the Whys and the Hows. That’s what the adjective “higher”meant. While the accumulation of information is obviously strategically important, there is an even greater need, and that is for quiet reflection on the more basic issues of  life. Reflection that is intentional and purpose directed is an art, a noble way to use one’s God-given ability to think about what is of genuine importance. Basic principles may be expressed in different ways in various periods in history, but even though scarred by the ideological battles of time, they remain of crucial importance to all. That is why Confucius deemed reflection the ”noble” way to learn. 
       Then, says Confucius, there is learning by imitation. I’m not exactly sure how he pictured this in his mind, but perhaps he was thinking of the relationship that we now call mentoring. We learn a whole lot simply by observing how other people do what the do, how they respond in various situations, etc.  A young athlete will watch the professional in order to learn how to win. The young rebel who has moved out into the street would have had a more satisfying life if he had been able to watch his dad showing respect to his father. We learn an appropriate lifestyle by watching how the more mature live it. And it’s true that this is the”easiest” way to learn. 
       Then there is learning by experience. Most everyone can tell an impressive story of how they learned something of genuine importance from some really difficult experience. However, not all learning by experience is “bitter.” The experience of growing up in a healthy family environment teaches the value of relationships in life. To personally do something of genuine importance at significant personal cost teaches the value of integrity. Granted, experience can be a disciplined tutor, but life continues to teach that no matter how difficult it may be at the moment, the end result will not only be beneficial, but deeply satisfying as well. 
       Our world, which seems bent on escaping the restrictions imposed by absolutes, desperately needs the wisdom from above, whether it is mediated by reflection, imitation, or experience.