Not Knowing

Death is one of life's great mysteries, and we aren't really taught to navigate what cannot be known. Contemplate, can we find freedom in the unknown, and what may be on the other side of the known world?

Transcript

One of the greatest challenges in thinking about death is simply the not knowing. As humans, We always want to feel safe. We're constantly scanning our environment, Thinking about the future, Trying to predict what's going to happen, And how we can keep ourselves out of harm's way. So we're naturally afraid of the unknown. And the greatest unknown, Of course, Is death. So it's only natural, As human beings, That the great not knowing of death can make us feel pretty nervous. The truth is, None of us know what to expect from death, Because we've never been there, And we don't know anyone who has. All we can do is try to accept this not knowing. As spiritual leader Eckhart Tolle said, Being at ease with not knowing is crucial for the answers to come to you. We must be comfortable with not knowing. So consider this. How might we embrace this part of ourselves, This deep aspect of our humanity, This not knowing? Is it possible to surrender and trust that whatever happens is meant to happen? Could this help us live more freely? There is a Zen practice of not knowing, Also called don't know mind. It's a way of engaging in the moment with an open and non-attached perspective. There's a certain freedom and peace that comes with this posture towards life. Let's take this opportunity to practice a bit of our own Zen style not knowing. So take a moment and get comfortable. And when you're ready, Breathing in, Think, Why was I born? And breathing out, I don't know. Breathing in, Think, When will I die? And exhaling out, I don't know. Breathing in, What will it feel like? Exhaling, I don't know. And once more, Breathing in, Think, What happens after I die? And breathing out, I don't know. And now, Letting go of these thoughts, There is one thing that you can know for sure, And that is that you are not alone. Every human being is asking these same questions, Trying to navigate these same unknowns. And we think there's something beautiful in that. So stepping back into your day, Knowing or not knowing that you are here and you are very much alive.

Reviews

So helpful, thank you 🙏

Helpful. Thank you.

Thank you🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻. For me, living in the question makes it easier to live with the not knowing. The question keeps it open, so nothing is written in stone and anything is possible.
What I do know for sure is that I, in this body incarnation, am going to die…🙏🏻🌟🦋🌟🙏🏻

Thank you 🙏