The Unknown
When we move away from our set ideas and beliefs, let go of the life we used to live and open ourselves up for change we are facing the unknown. Things will be hard to predict in that space. As long as we do what we are always doing we have somewhat an idea where our life goes. But in the unknown there is no path to follow and we cannot repeat what we did in the past. We have to come up with a new way of acting a new way of living our lives.
Not knowing what will happen is very unsettling. There is no security and no belief systems to hold on to. It is an open empty space without any rules attached to it. We feel lost and are afraid of what lies ahead since we cannot apply our old programming. The unknown is a canvas without a projection on it. We can only project what we know about the past onto the future. But what happens when we are in a place we have not been before? We cannot project but have to surrender to what is.
On the other hand there is a great amount of growth in the unknown. I still remember an interview that I saw when I was 15 with the famous Austrian zoologist Konrad Lorenz. He was talking about plants growing into a new species. He said that when a plant ventures out to new living conditions it usually goes through a very tough period of time to adjust. But after the adjustments are done the new species is much stronger then the old one ever was. I never forgot his words.
The beauty about the unknown is that it is very exciting to do things differently. Moving in uncharted territory makes us all explorers of life. The unknown cannot be survived it only can be lived. It will never get stale or boring. It will always keep us on our toes since there is no space for settling down, no space to project our ideas onto. There is great freedom in the unknown because nothing is closing us in or shutting ourselves down. It is always changing and never the same.
How do we want to live our lives?
I decided long ago that I want to live the unknown. I want to grow, I want to experience new things, and I want to live an exciting life. I want to have as many adventures as I can. I don’t care about survival. I want either a good life or a good death. I want to change and live my maximum potential.
The unknown is the only place where we can find out who we really are. We know what the old stands for. For the illusionary self guided by our minds/egos with all their ideas and beliefs. That is the past and it will never change. To find the true self we have to leave knowledge behind and have to be willing to enter an area of not knowing. That is the only way to transcend the ego, to let go of suffering.
How do you want to live your life?
"The Unknown/Empty Canvas" Williamsburg/Brooklyn 02-25-08 at 02:50 PM.
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