Open Mind

Photo by Don Nores

Once in a while I run across something that makes me think long and hard.  (scary)  When this happens, I seem to keep coming back to the item again and again.

A while back, I was reading a book describing the teachings of the Buddah.  Don't worry, I am not going to go into all of that with you, but there was one really striking passage that made me take pause.  It simply said:

"Usually when we read or hear something new, we just compare it to our own ideas.  If it is the same, we accept it and say that it is correct.  If it is not, we say that it is incorrect.  In either case, we learn nothing.  But if we read or listen with an open mind, this can be different..."

I began thinking how often I compare what I read, hear or see to my personal beliefs, background and experiences, and just how quickly I make a judgement call.  Often, the experience is over just that quick for me.  I shut it out as being wrong, or just overlook it as an "of course" situation if I think it is right, and move on to my next thought.  I wondered what I might be missing by this practice.  I know that I often, at least mentally, cut off a person expressing a new idea, because I have already jumped to judgement.  Wow, I have probably missed a lot over the years....  I have some catching up to do. Of course judgments must be made to exist in the world, but I am now working on letting the new ideas play out a while longer before I pass judgement.  I am still not very good at this, but I'm working on it.

I found it interesting to think of these things, and thought you might find it interesting too.