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Whenever I read The Book of Not Knowing, there’s the same question I face over and over “how does Ralston look into this so deeply on his own?! I don’t understand! How can I investigate and question from such a radically open place?!” When Ralston talks about learning how to master something just by watching the skill I wish to learn, the same underlying reaction and question comes up, “how do I do that?! I can do that?!”
When I try and take that into any investigation of whatever matter, I find the same issue over and over again… it’s my “knowing”. I’m so dominated by all my conceptual projections onto what I believe things to be. In that moment I feel overwhelmed by how far I am from really getting to a true place of not knowing an openness to investigate things by my own programming. My ability to question is limited by my own programming of how I already, as if “know everything”. In every moment of my experience there’s is this programmed knowing into every action I make and “object” I relate with.
How do I overcome and move towards a place of true, authentic, radical openness yet still being grounded?
I've come across this same question within my own mind Kieran. Only recently have I discovered a newfound practice and had insights into the nature of openness. All i've learned and all I can give is the following realization, "When I feel the most open, I'm not questioning whether I'm open or not." in other words, constantly questioning whether you're open or you're not open and whether you're doing the practices right is an effort to know. Not-knowing, for me at least, has been experienced when I fall into that place of maybe I'm doing it right maybe i'm not, but I don't need to think in order to perform it right. Hopefully that helps a little?
Kieran,
Openness is a byproduct of not knowing. It also seems that not knowing can have a depth to it. Like principles can be aligned with to a shallow level or a great depth. The depth is massively increased after an enlightenment experience, at least for me. I am also certain you can increase the depth of your openness by continuing to notice what you already don't know, and abide in that state. Like many of these things it takes training. Hope that helps.
I have also made a video relating to this topic that will come out on my YouTube channel within the next few weeks. Stay tuned and keep up the good work.
Brendan