The difference Between Knowing and Not Knowing is a fascinating read for me. It helps me understand the difference between knowing and not knowing. The known is in the past and what is unknown is the future. The present is here and now, not there and then. The present is the reality. Like the authors say in the beginner's mind the possibilities are endless. I know the past which is gone and the future is unknown and has not yet arrived. If I hold on or am attached to the past there is no room for living freely and if I worry or think about the future then there is no possibility of living fully. The reality is in the here and now consciousness. Fresh and new ideas arise in the mind which is free from the past and future. As Swami Ramdass says in his book Here and Now, the reality is here and now. That reality is mysterious and true. The bottom line is to live in the world of the present, in the here and now consciousness. Such a way of living generates intimacy with me and with the mysteries of living. I have experienced such a mystery when I keep my mind and heart open, unbound by the past which is already gone and the future which is yet to arrive. I have such experiences when my mind and heart are open. Practicing mindfulness meditation, being fully present and awake in whatever I do such as walking in nature, washing dishes, brushing my teeth, taking a shower, listening to music, listening to me and others, doing Kirtan, chanting together and in my everyday life. Such experiences are very profound and they resonate deeply in my mind and heart. Such experiences are real and reliable. They create deep joy, love, fulfillment, peace and happiness in my life. This is the Beginner's Mind as The Zen Master Shunryu Susiki describes.
Namaste!
1 Comment
Debbie Podwika
11/9/2024 03:01:14 pm
I do value a nice balance. I don't live totally in the past but I visit there it can make me very happy. Sometimes sad but sometimes I get insight from that as well. Now I also don't think we should live totally in the present. If we only live in the present we can't learn from the past by reflecting and we cannot prepare for the future. We also do not have the opportunity to maybe make the future better if we just let it happen by other people's desires.
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