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Today's
Meditation:
How
much water can you put into a cup that's full of sand?
How much new information, and how many new ideas, can fit
into a mind that is already decided on what's right and
what's wrong, what's acceptable and unacceptable? How
many of us have missed wonderful opportunities for learning
because of preconceived notions or beliefs that we've
adopted from others because we thought they were
"right"? How
many times have we missed beautiful sights or events because
our minds were full of racing thoughts about things that
really weren't all that important in the long run? How
many times have we rejected people who might have been great
friends because they believed something that we didn't
believe, or didn't believe what I believed? I've known
people who have no friends if they're not Christians, and
I've often marveled at their willingness to reject
categorically the majority of the world's population. But
how can we empty our minds? Perhaps the first step is
simply realizing that we don't have the answers. Our
minds are limited, and when we adopt a belief, it's
important to keep in mind that it may be mistaken. And
that means any belief. If we can do that, then
we won't hold so tightly to them, especially when we see
evidence that we might have been wrong. We
won't learn anything if our minds are filled. The
person who is sure that it's raining outside will stay
indoors for hours, even after the sun comes back out,
because he or she "knows" what it's like
outside. But if we remember that things change--even
the weather--we'll know that what we were sure of an hour
ago may not be the case right now. |
