Letting In 'Don't Know'

In this practice, Tom invites us to take in the truth of "don't know." Don't know what's coming next, don't know what to do, and don't even know what would be best. Who are you without the story that you need to know what's coming next?

Transcript

Okay,

So everyone mute yourself and we'll just start with a little guided meditation.

Just begin by allowing yourself to relax the body,

Allow the body to find a comfortable position.

And let's begin by noticing the circumstances that you find yourself in today.

And let's begin by noticing the circumstances that you find yourself in today.

The circumstances of this body,

The physical space,

Any relationships,

Bank accounts,

Cars,

Health,

And a strong sense of space.

Overall circumstances that you find yourself in or appearing.

And then include this overall world circumstance that we all find ourself in.

What the mandated quarantine,

Strongly suggested quarantine.

Allow yourself to,

It's almost like kind of settle in to these circumstances that we call the world.

In to these circumstances that we call the world.

The little bubble of your world that's the immediate circumstances,

And then the bigger bubble of the world that we call humanity,

Planet and planet Earth.

And again to settle in a little deeper into being here in this very specific set of conditions or circumstances.

Quarantine.

The world of humanity going through quarantine.

And now begin to notice that if you're honest with yourself,

You have no idea of how this will all play out on an individual level and on a collective level.

Let's just start by noticing the truth that no matter how many opinions you've heard,

No matter how many opinions your mind has given you,

In reality,

We have no idea,

We have no actual knowing of how it will all unfold from here.

And as best you can begin to welcome this experience of not knowing.

Begin to let it in.

And be aware as you're letting it in,

As you're allowing the experience of not knowing.

Please notice any tension that might show up in the body.

And welcome as best you can,

Those sensations.

Any sensations of tension or contraction.

And as you welcome those sensations,

It should allow you to go a little deeper into experiencing not knowing how it's going to unfold from here.

And as you go a little deeper into that experience,

Sometimes a little more tension might show up.

A little resistance.

And if that's the case,

Welcome again any sensation of resistance.

Notice it,

And then allow yourself to be open and welcoming.

Notice how this awareness,

That which is aware of any tension or resistance,

Still notice how this awareness,

This presence of awareness is already opened.

And allowing and welcoming.

And notice again this circumstance that we're in.

We find ourself in as a body.

We don't know how it's going to move from here.

We don't know what's next.

And if you're honest,

You don't know what should be next.

If we're honest,

We don't actually know for sure what would be best.

And notice how this presence of awareness instantly and effortlessly welcomes not knowing what's best,

Not knowing what's next,

Not even knowing how I should respond or react to what's going on.

And allow yourself to not know fully,

Completely,

Not know,

Not even how you should be reacting or responding,

What you should be doing or not doing.

Let that not knowing end.

A little more.

Invite yourself to be open to fully experiencing not knowing.

Not even knowing what you should think about it.

Not knowing what you should do or not do.

Not even knowing how you should feel about it.

And now consider,

You need to know,

You need to know how to feel about this.

You need to know what to do or what not to do.

You need to know what's next.

You need to know how it's going to play out.

Is that true?

Right now,

In this moment,

Is it true that you need to know anything at all about what to do,

What to feel,

How it's going to be?

Anything at all about the future.

Is it true that you need to know anything at all about the future?

Right now,

In this moment,

Is that true?

Do you absolutely know that you need to know anything at all?

Even about the next moment,

Or next week,

Or next month.

You absolutely know that it's true that you need to know anything at all in regards to this situation or circumstance.

And if your answer is no,

I don't,

I don't need to know,

Or I don't know for sure that I need to know,

Then let your answer in.

Allow your whole being to rest.

Imagine your answer,

If it's no,

If it's yes,

Allow yourself to fully experience your answer.

And now notice reality again.

Do you know for sure how to react,

What to do,

How to feel about this?

Do you know for sure how it's going to unfold from here?

Do you know for sure what to do or what not to do?

Do you know for sure what would be best moving forward from here?

For you,

For those close to you,

For the rest of the planet,

Do you know for sure what would be best moving forward from here?

Do you know for sure what would be best moving forward from here?

Notice how that question,

Do you know for sure what would be best moving forward from here?

Notice how that question is for you,

Not for the mind.

That question is for you.

Do you know for sure what would be best?

And that's your answer.

Now just consider what it's like.

When you think you do know,

What would be best from here,

Moving forward from here?

When you think you know,

What would be best even about later today?

Just notice how that affects your sense of freedom.

When you think you know,

How it should unfold from here?

When you think you know,

What would be best?

Again,

What happens to your sense of freedom?

When you think you know,

How it should be,

How it should unfold,

What would be best?

And now as best you can,

Allow yourself to be without any ideas of what would be best for you,

Those who are close to you,

And the world.

Allow yourself just as an exploration,

Not forever,

Allow yourself to be without any ideas of what would be best,

Or how it should be,

Or should unfold.

Just to experience yourself without those ideas.

And notice how in this moment,

They're just ideas.

That's it.

This presence of awareness that is aware of the ideas.

And consider the possibility that this presence of awareness doesn't need any ideas of what would be best,

Or how it should be,

For it to be.

Notice how this presence of awareness doesn't need to hold on to any ideas,

And doesn't need to push any of the ideas away.

In order for it to be what it is.

The presence of awareness,

Or the awareness of presence,

And allow,

And rest in what you are,

Is aware,

Living presence,

Free of stories,

Naturally,

Effortlessly free of stories.

How this presence of awareness doesn't need to know anything in order to be itself.

Your awareness.

Thank you.

.

.

That,

That which sees,

That which hears,

That which experiences,

Instantly and effortlessly welcomes whatever appears as it sees or experiences through the physical eyes.

So when you're ready.

Reviews

A powerful practice. Applicable to multiple aspects of my life currently. It was fascinating to see things shift during the practice, somewhat effortlessly. I will bookmark this and revisit this as I feel I am likely to need refreshing of this, again and again. I've never engaged in a practice quite like this one, and this was just what I was in need of. Thank you. 🙏

Really helpful. The idea that not knowing even how to feel is ok was such a huge help to my nervous system. Thank you for creating this!

Thanks so much

Thank You 🙏 for guidance into experiencing what “being” or “awareness” is or feels like. Though to admit “not knowing” in this reality can be frightening at first, letting go of the “need” to know is so freeing because it allows for “being” truly present in the now and able to appreciate that. 🙏🙏🙏

So so so so grateful

Unbelievably helpful, thank you :)

Thank you for the perspective of not knowing & emptiness, there is a freedom in that awareness 🙏

Complete freedom and peace.....so rare for me. Would love to explore this more🙏

An excellent practice on acceptance...true freedom.