James Baraz: Letting Go of Knowing: Loving The Mystery

I'm listening to "Letting Go of Knowing: Loving The Mystery:" by James Baraz
https://www.dharmaseed.org/teacher/86/talk/67545/

This is hands down one of the best talks I’ve ever heard, in both content and delivery. I had planned on another post today and will save that for next week. I heard this talk and was too moved by it not to immediately share. This dose of wisdom comes at a time where I’m working really hard of letting go of certain specific things. What was so helpful and inspiring here was the notion that letting go doesn’t have to feel like torture. I have been approaching it from a deep place of trust, wholly believing in the task at hand for all the reasons. And it’s hard. It’s meant to be hard. Which is why I figured that all the tough, crunchy discomfort that comes attached to surrender was par for the course. I know that pain has great purpose and that the greatest transformations often come after periods of intense emotional hardship. Pain, it seems, is an important and necessary part of the equation of change. Rewiring our neural pathways and habits ain’t for the weak and lazy.
The gist of this wonderful lecture (which I heard on the Dharma Seed app) is that we can adopt an attitude of not knowing from a place of wonder and wide eyed curiosity. It can actually feel good! When we can truly surrender and not feel like we are prying our stories off our hearts, but rather bring a mood of child like surprise to what’s next, then the task of letting go becomes a lovely and sweet endeavor. Yes, the firm, gritty decision to pivot no matter what is also a crucial piece to letting go. However I really responded to the possibility of this process feeling loving, soft, beautiful, and special; like, “hey, Universe, I’m so excited to not know because now I’m allowing myself to be surprised”. That sort of thing, where we partner to create an opening for the light to enter. I actually communicate this to Source all the time. Show me what miracles you have for me today. But I admit I often say that with more than a tinge of sad resignation. “Ugh, fine” vibes.
Two of the most important words in zen or other types of Buddhist practice are “not knowing” or “don’t know”. The greatest masters said this nonstop, and it’s considered unmatched wisdom. A fresh beginners’ mind is much easier said than done, but it’s one of the keys to a well lived life. We can plan and plan and still have no idea what’s to come. We can assume there’s control in knowledge of ourselves, our lives, and the lives of others and yet feel shocked when, guess what, we aren’t omniscient. The illusion of control is of course a great attempt in avoiding fear of not knowing, which essentially makes presence impossible in that we become obsessed with the future. Refusing to be open to the unknown mysteries and miracles that lie ahead is probably one of the quickest ways to kill our spirit. We need to remember that child like curiosity in life’s surprises, and how it physically and emotionally feels to open up a wrapped gift that was selected just for us. It’s like by tapping into the surprises that Source has picked out for us, we can enjoy the process of surrendering. We trust that magic is around the corner, which actually makes Now magical as well. Almost like boarding a flight to a magnificent destination; it’s exciting to take the ride to this incredible place. It doesn’t have to be a dreadful process. Surrender can be amazing, and vibrationally tapping into the joy of what’s to come will bring said unknown miracles forward even quicker. Perhaps. All shall be revealed in time. When and how, we don’t know.
“Let go and let’s go!”