The thirst for knowledge might be seen as the foundation of all human development. Knowledge has been revered by all cultures, past and present, with the creed of countless educational institutions based on some version of “Knowledge is Power”.
Having knowledge is of course objectively a good thing, but there are two stories to tell…
“The silence inside of you is the sound of your knowledge collapsing. Remember, it is you who said, ‘I want to be free.’” – Adyashanti
“Beyond even any teaching, though, the aspect of spiritual life that is the most profound is the element of grace. Grace is something that comes to us when we somehow find ourselves completely available, when we become openhearted and open-minded, and are willing to entertain the possibility that we may not know what we think we know. In this gap of not knowing, in the suspension of any conclusion, a whole other element of life and reality can rush in. This is what I call grace. It’s that moment of “ah-ha!”—a moment of recognition when we realize something that previously we never could quite imagine.” – Adyashanti
I’d like to pause for a moment and have you re-read the words, “when we somehow find ourselves completely available, when we become openhearted and open-minded, and are willing to entertain the possibility that we may not know what we think we know.”
Have you ever realized how “knowing” can make you operate very unconsciously? There’s something about knowing that’s like “closing the book”, and closing ourselves to seeing more.
I’ll use a really simple example and you’re invited to add a bit of imagination to make it more personal to you:
Visualize for a moment walking from your bedroom to the kitchen. Travel that journey with your mind as a reminder to yourself. You’ve walked that route so many times and know it so well that you don’t have to think about it at all.
How unconscious have you become while walking that path? Unaware of any of the steps you take?
But imagine for a moment walking that familiar old route to fetch a glass of water, and while you walk suddenly experiencing a power failure… pitch black darkness… and in just a moment, being hyper conscious comes flooding back, suddenly becoming aware of every foot placement again, which would otherwise have happened unconsciously.
This is not a “bad” thing, but it’s worth realizing that our human brain does this with everything that we are very familiar with. Everything that we think we “know” has a feeling of certainty to it and goes on autopilot, as we continue to act out our lives without actually thinking.
Knowledge (or what we think we know) is often the killer of consciousness, while the acceptance of not knowing is what makes us open to seeing, “when we somehow find ourselves completely available, when we become openhearted and open-minded, and are willing to entertain the possibility that we may not know what we think we know”, THAT is when grace and wisdom finds us.
Of course we should embrace knowledge and also remind ourselves that all the knowledge in the world won’t protect us from sometimes being “wrong” because “As the Island of our Knowledge grows, so do the shores of our ignorance” – John Archibald Wheeler.
As long as I am always aware of my ignorance, I can use my growing knowledge to ask better questions.
I try to remind myself as often as possible to stop and ask the question: “Please show me what I am not seeing.”
Here are some guiding mantras for self-reflection:
- “Please show me what I am not seeing.” This powerful question invites a beginner’s mind, allowing us to approach familiar situations with fresh eyes.
- “Am I operating on autopilot?” Take a moment to pause and become aware of your present state. Are you truly engaged in the moment, or simply going through the motions?
- “What can I learn from this?” Look for lessons in every experience, even the seemingly mundane.
By embracing “not knowing,” we cultivate a space for growth, curiosity, and deeper understanding. Remember, the journey of personal development is a lifelong exploration, not a destination. So, keep asking questions, stay open-minded, and allow yourself to be surprised by the wisdom that emerges from the fertile ground of not knowing.
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: The serenity prayer.