Seek to Learn, Not to Be Right

Last updated on: August 4, 2015 at 11:01 am by Annie Mueller

Seek to Learn, Not to Be Right 2015-08-04T11:01:33-05:00 Annie Mueller

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We depend on our senses to give us accurate information about the world. More and more, though, we’re learning that our senses, and then our brains, might filter things out. Might neglect to give us important messages. Might not present a complete view of reality. Might distort and skew to match our expectations and our priorities rather than showing us what is.

The Buddhist Bible: Chapter I. Discrimination

Ed. Dwight Goddard

All that is seen in the world is devoid of effort and action because all things in the world are like a dream, or like an image miraculously projected. This is not comprehended by the philosophers and the ignorant, but those who thus see things see them truthfully. Those who see things otherwise walk in discrimination and, as they depend upon discrimination, they cling to dualism. The world as seen by discrimination is like seeing one’s own image reflected in a mirror, or one’s shadow, or the moon reflected in water, or an echo heard in the valley. People grasping their own shadows of discrimination become attached to this thing and that thing and failing to abandon dualism they go on forever discriminating and thus never attain tranquillity. By tranquillity is meant Oneness, and Oneness gives birth to the highest Samadhi which is gained by entering into the realm of Noble Wisdom that is realisable only within one’s inmost consciousness. [Source]

What can we do, then, to make wise decisions, to grasp what’s really happening, to respond appropriately to the people and the world around us? How can we get out of our own heads? It’s impossible, isn’t it? To think outside of our minds. To see beyond our senses. To trust ourselves less and trust… Well, that’s really the question, isn’t it? If we can’t trust our own senses, our own brains, what can we trust? Who do we trust? Where do we go for accurate information, for a better understanding of reality?

The Complete Sayings of Jesus: VIII

com. Arthur Hinds

And this is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. [Source]

Our tendency is to go to others and seek confirmation from them. That’s not always bad: hearing another person’s perspective can give us new information and insight, can help us to see beyond our emotional reactions or desires. But it can be bad, this confirmation-seeking from others, if we only go to others who are, essentially, just like us. Because if we only seek affirmation and confirmation within a select group of people who comfort us because they never challenge us, we will never gain new insight, a different perspective, a broader understanding, or an expanded experience of life. We’ll simply get mirror images of our own biases and blindness, and we’ll settle even deeper into our mental and emotional ruts because we pretend that hearing the same views from others (whom we have chosen because they are parrots of ourselves) is affirmation enough. That’s a dangerous way to seek truth.

Life Lessons

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Learning lessons is a little like reaching maturity. You’re not suddenly more happy, wealthy, or powerful, but you understand the world around you better, and you’re at peace with yourself. Learning life’s lessons is not about making your life perfect, but about seeing life as it was meant to be. [Source]

Here’s the challenge: go to someone outside of your group. Someone whose views are different than, or even opposed to, your own. Seek an outside perspective on whatever question or issue is in your mind right now. Ask questions, and listen with the desire to learn something new. Go with your defenses down. Don’t attempt to prove your points or establish your superior intelligence. If you want to learn, start by admitting you may be wrong about some things. Start by being honest enough to say that you don’t have a complete perspective on life. Start by seeking new information from sources who have experienced life differently and reached different conclusions than you have. And look for what they know that you don’t know. Seek it. Pull it in, not to pick it apart and reject it, but to learn. It’s frightening to admit that you may not have the answers. That you may be wrong. That your conclusions may be flawed. But if you can be courageous enough to walk into that fear, you can gain so much more. Freedom, understanding, empathy, connection. More truth. Photo Credit: photophilde via Compfight cc

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