The art of un-knowing

One of the most persistent struggles of life that it seems that the more we know about something, the more we realize we have to learn. As knowledge can become a constant source of stress and frustration in life, it might make more sense to discard the knowledge we already have and espouse ignorance, instead.

If ignorance is the answer to problems created by knowledge, then a person who has never attended a day of school in his life would be the ultimate sage.

That is not quite true.

Knowledge here refers to conditioning. From the day we are born we are conditioned to think a certain way about ourselves and the world around us. This conditioning is reinforced by our daily routines, the people with whom we associate, the books we read, the movies we see, and so on. Both educated and uneducated people alike are conditioned by their surroundings and life experiences, leading them to think and act through force of habit rather than free will.

The mind likes stability and predictability. The accumulation of knowledge confers a certain degree of order and certainty to our world. Our knowledge, which consists of deeply entrenched ideas, beliefs and assumptions, provides a frame of reference with which to judge the outside world. This approach to life would be fine insofar as all the conditions and circumstances of living remain fixed and unchanging. But, as we all know, the only permanent quality of life is impermanence itself. Reality is really a succession of thoughts, actions, and events that are constantly arising, passing, and evolving– and we change with them.

When we cling to certain notions of how the world should work, we are not making room for new situations to arise. We resist changes rather than work with them and, as a result, find ourselves unable to adapt with the tides of life. When reality unfolds in a way that conflicts with our belief system, we become frustrated and look for something or someone- often ourselves- to blame. This resistance brings stress and unhappiness, making living a constant uphill battle.

To discard knowledge does not mean to reject knowledge or to forget intentionally, but to free ourselves from debilitating mindsets and self-imposed limitations that keep us from seeing clearly. Seeing clearly means seeing things as they are. If our minds are set on the way things ought to be, we become blind to the way things are.

How exactly do we free ourselves from the conditioning to which we have been subjected throughout our lives? Simply by watching our own minds. By making a point to be aware of our thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations as they arise, we gain a still vantage point from which to observe them in a less personal, more objective manner. Mindfulness puts some distance between our minds and their contents, allowing us to observe rather than get involved in the inner chaos of thought. Throught mindfulness we gain a sense of order and direction without having to rely on habituated thought patterns.

Freed from the shackles of our own beliefs, biases, and assumptions, we are able to open up to what is and to greet each moment with interest and objectivity. We become less rigid and more receptive. Having a fresh outlook on life, we embrace changes as they arise and are better equipped to respond more calmly and effectively to novel situations.