Unknowing

Unknowing

A comment yesterday by a friend from the States reminded me of the wonder of unknowing.

Or perhaps another way of putting it is not knowing  – and being at ease with that.

They were astonished at the enormous range of languages they hear when out and about in London (apparently, over 300!). That means they are swimming in a soup of not knowing what is being said around them. Which can feel unsettling but really, how unusual is that?

In a world where there seems to be an ‘answer’ for everything (just ask Uncle G(oogle)), we are in fact constantly in the realm of not knowing. A simple example. I don’t know how many people will read this newsletter, who will like it or punch delete with a grimace, when they might open it, why they sign up for the newsletter, if I will ever meet them, if I will get it finished before I have lunch. blah blah blah… And not knowing any of this really doesn’t matter in the big scheme of things.

A light-hearted example, yes, but perhaps a softer way into realising we really haven’t a clue what is going on in the broader sense of things, when something is going to begin or end (including ourselves). What we do know, control, manage is really only a teeny, tiny piece of that soup.

Happy swimming.

With a bow
Maitripushpa
with thanks to the medieval Cloud of Unknowing

from the WLBC Newsletter, 1 May 2024
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