On January 21, 2021, Matt McKinley of Quantum of Conscience, posted a discussion, “Exercise in big thinking — Arrogant to assume we’re the only ones not fooled!” (see video below). The subtext for the video stated, “Every once in a while I must keep on the table that reality is fooling us, just as it’s fooling every other group.” I hope readers here will listen to his wise words, in a way that only Matt knows how to do.
Matt’s off-the-cuff presentation reminded me of a tiny book I keep by my bedside: the Shambhala Pocket Classic, Awakening Loving-Kindness, written by a Buddhist nun and renowned meditation master, Pema Chödrön. Chapter 8 is called “No Such Thing as a True Story,” and leads with, “In Taoism there’s a famous saying that goes, ‘The Tao that can be spoken is not the ultimate Tao.’ Another way you could say that, although I’ve never seen it translated this way, is, ‘As soon as you begin to believe in something, then you can no longer see anything else.’ The truth you believe in and cling to makes you unavailable to hear anything new.”
Continue reading “Words of Wisdom, Words of Caution”
