Trust the Not-Knowing

Follow the stream,

Have faith in its course.

Ch'an Master Sheng-Yen

During my Zen training there were a number of phrases that lodged in the mind like nettles, refusing to budge, going nowhere. One was “don’t know mind”; another “only don’t know”. The mind that knows is limited, conditioned, stuck. Not knowing opens up limitless possibilities. We want to cultivate the mind that knows nothing. Our ordinary thinking mind is addicted to knowing ‘stuff’. We so want to be right, to seem like we know what we are doing-to be in charge. One with this ocean of vastness, who is in charge of anything? Yet, strangely, decisions are made and effective actions are taken.

How do we cultivate the mind that has no need to know? With no need to do or know anything whatsoever, genuine Knowing emerges of its own, spontaneously. This river flows by itself, without guidance or direction. Freely appearing Knowing is incontrovertible, not arguable. We know directly, for ourselves. No teachers or teachings are necessary. “Dharmas here are empty, all are the primal void”-the Heart Sutra speaks to us clearly.

In the teaching/discussion of January 9, we will explore the experience of living in the world from the ‘perspective’ of not knowing. How do we learn to identify and trust this direct, spontaneous speaking and acting? In Affirming Faith in Mind we read “thus walking freely, undisturbed”. What is it like to live in this way? We have all experienced such freedom. Right here, right now, how can we miss it?

For Info on Chinese Zen (Ch'an) Master Sheng Yen see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXJXrKEzo0c