September 2019

Unknowing
Rev. Master Koshin Schomberg

The answers to the questions in life that really matter cannot be found by relying solely on our own brain, or on the brains of other people, or on our own brain combined with the brains of other people. In matters of spiritual importance, the brain functions well in service of Something greater than itself, but when we rely upon the brain in the wrong way, we deepen our own confusion and ignorance.

In contemplative religion, “unknowing” is in no way equivalent to “ignorance.” “Unknowing” means “relying upon the Eternal for guidance in all that is truly important.” “Ignorance” means “blindness—sometimes willful blindness—to the Eternal and to the functioning of the law of karma.”

So we can stuff our brains with facts, opinions and theories, and yet be utterly ignorant (in the spiritual meaning of “ignorant”). And we can have a brain that is not stuffed with facts, opinions and theories, and yet manifest the wisdom that comes from reliance upon the Eternal.

Similarly, intellectual ability has no necessary relationship to wisdom: we can be very smart and yet be spiritually ignorant. However, being very smart does not constitute a spiritual handicap unless one is proud of one’s intellectual ability, in which case one will inevitably try to make that ability take the place of the Eternal.

There is no such thing as immutable ignorance: in one moment we can manifest spiritual ignorance, and in the next moment we can correct our error and turn to the Eternal for help. When we do this, we return to unknowing—we return to faith. Therefore, there is no ignorance so dark that it cannot be enlightened.

How can we rely upon the Eternal?—Withdraw within; ask for help; allow thoughts and emotions to quieten, and the mind to dwell in stillness. In doing this, we enter into unknowing and open ourselves to the Help of the Eternal.

To do this we have to let go of all insistence: it is enough to place all our desires, fears and worries into the Eternal’s hands and sit still. If we can be content in this way, we will not be creating the spiritual static that prevents us from recognizing the guidance of the Eternal. Then, when all conditions ripen, we will know what we need to know, and we will be able to do what we need to do: unknowing is the gateway to a whole universe of possibilities.

NEWS OF THE TEMPLES

Westerwolder Dharma Toevlucht

By request, Rev. Master Hector has started recording his dharma talks. These recordings are now available through the website: https://westerwolder-dharma-toevlucht.nl/Dharma-besprekingen/ For the time being there will be no link from the Priory's regular webpages to this particular page. So, if you are interested, please do remember this address, or bookmark it.