Today's Quotation:

A cup is useful only when it is empty; and a mind that is filled with beliefs, with dogmas, with assertions, with quotations is really an uncreative mind.

J. Krishnamurti

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.

Questions to ponder:

1.  What kinds of beliefs do you hold most dearly?

2.  How do you think you could best empty your own mind?

3.  Can you think of a belief or thought that you were sure was true, only to find out later that it was mistaken?  What separates that particular belief from the others that you still hold on to?

For further thought:

Be sure to choose what you believe and why you believe it, because if you don’t choose your beliefs, you may be certain that some belief, and probably not a very credible one, will choose you.

Robertson Davies

more thoughts and ideas on beliefs

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