“Only two kinds of people can attain self-knowledge: those whose minds are not encumbered at all with learning - this is to say, not overcrowded with thoughts borrowed from others – and those who, after studying all the scriptures and sciences, have come to realize that they know nothing” - Ramakrishna
You see, that is the predicament with trying to “find ourselves” or “gain enlightenment”. If we hit that point in life where we need to change, either through force (trauma) or intuition (grace) we often start like we always have, by trying to acquire knowledge. We have learned how to learn, but the predicament is, this particular learning /indoctrination process is what actually got us here. A “here” is the place from which we need to change. We can’t think our way out of this one because whatever system we used that built up our egoic structure isn’t going to be helpful in breaking it down.
“Know nothing” is the next stage in the trip.
It sounds incredibly simple, and it is, but it is also incredibly hard because you need to learn and learn and learn until you finally realize you don’t know anything with all you’ve learned. That’s when you let go of the part of you that isn’t really you, and what is left is who you truly are. That is the only way through, and it is a lonely journey.
It’s you versus you the entire way. Only one person stood by Jesus by the time he got to the cross.
You just keep letting go of everything you know. Questioning everything thing you believe and challenging everything you think you are. All the spiritual paths are just different ways up this same mountain, but the view is the same from the top……so I am told. And maybe I need to unlearn that? It’s a wild ride.
The Way
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