Knowing, Being Known

“The whole can become knowledgeable.”  DTS 41

Perhaps because the invitation of eknosis–to know inwardly and outwardly in a single moment–seems “beyond” me, I find it very helpful to feel that “I” might have an ally in this endeavor.

The phrase quoted above caught me unawares.  I realized that I expected to read that “the whole is knowable”–although that would itself be a radical enough assertion.  But the assertion that the whole can be knowledgeable–as in “my teacher is more knowledgeable than me”–gives me a sense that there is a kind of wisdom and understanding in the universe that I could open to.

It reminds me of when I used to consult the “I Ching”, in moments of doubt and perplexity, and–amazingly–the more heartfelt my question, the more the I Ching’s answer would penetrate and provide me with meaningful guidance.

Perhaps one of the messages of the TSK vision, is that “the whole” is knowledgeable in that same way.  If we dare to inquire more deeply, in ways that honestly and openly invite the truth of our situation to be revealed, then we will be amazed.

I hope we continue to explore the vision together and share our adventures along the way.

–Michael

About Michael Gray

I first started studying TSK in the mid 1980's and have since attended a number of retreats and workshops at the Nyingma Institute, in both TSK and Buddhist themes. I participated in the life-changing Human Development Training Program in 1991, and upon returning to Albuquerque co-founded an organization, Friends in Time (with a friend who has Lou Gehrig's Disease), which continues to serve people with similiar disabilities. I contributed an essay to "A New Way of Being"--the last one in the book--in which I describe how learning to honor who I have been has broadened and deepened my openness to present experience. I live in New Mexico with my wife and two sons.
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2 Responses to Knowing, Being Known

  1. Michael Gray says:

    Hi Karen,
    Yes, dwelling in the unknown feels like a wonderful place to be. If I could only find it again. I think I have felt the deep truth of the unknown a few times in my life. Franz Kafka has an enigmatic image of a mouse racing between two walls that are getting closer and closer together. A cat standing behind him remarks “You have only to change direction.” I’ve experience that. When you glimpse that your familiar world is shrinking, that itself can be the push we need to step–in fear and trembling–into the unknown. And there the amazing sun is shining again.
    Michael

  2. Karin says:

    Hi Michael,
    thank you for pointing out “knowledgeable” – I first had to ask the dictionary about the difference to “knowable”,. Reading your comment my first reaction was, that “dwelling in the unknown” could be another gateway to “The whole can become knowledgeable”, although it sounds somehow paradox.
    Karin

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