How "Not Knowing" Eases Suffering - Talk with Dr. Rick Hanson

When we cling to what we "know," we often suffer - because we narrow our perspective and can get trapped in a cycle of expectations and disappointments. This prevents us from seeing the true nature of our ever-changing reality, as well as the many opportunities around us.
In my Wednesday Meditation and Talk from April 10, I talked about how embracing "not knowing" can help dissolve suffering, releasing us from the shackles of our minds.
Some key points that I covered are:
- When we embrace not knowing, we can come to rest in a deep peace, which is what we meditated on. (You can watch/listen to the meditation here: rickhanson.com... )
- The balance of useful knowing and opening into a sense of "don't know"
- How embracing uncertainty promotes an open mind and reduces the impulse to overanalyze or prematurely judge situations or people
- How to apply the attitude of not knowing to what the Buddha called the five major hindrances: doubt, ill-will, attachment to sense-pleasure, regret/remorse/agitation/restlessness/worry, and sloth/torpor/procrastination
You are welcome to join my free Wednesday Meditations - which are open to everyone - by signing up for free, here: rickhanson.com...
You can see the meditation that went along with this talk here: rickhanson.com...

[@Peachy_Pea_007]

You are amazing, Dr. Rick. I have received your newsletters for years. I absolutely love your work. Thank you sincerely for being YOU! 💫

[@j.shepard6818]

Amen a recovering knower

[@bell10877]

Wonderful 🙏🏼

[@lmansur1000]

It is very helpful to go into the space of not knowing. Recently, I have assumed things... and they came out very differently, every timer plus, I may assume things about people's intention, and those come out very differently. I have also become aware of how most likely hardly anyone understand me - for I started understanding me more in recent years... and it is not easy in there... in the way I am... so that is also something to embrace... others not knowing me and to be OK with that... as I need to be OK about not know them or things that I assume something about. Thank you for this idea of not knowing....ALSO, another one that helps me as well is remembering that nothing ids personal.. Namaste.

[@j.shepard6818]

Thank you for sharing this wisdom 🙏

[@lmansur1000]

I have a suggestion for you: How about creating a book by the inner sage that you are... similar to the idea of the Tao Te Ching but definitely yours, your own wisdom, outlook, humor, touches.... embrace your inner sage and do it... unless you have already done it... subtle, not too much talk or elaboration and maybe some subtle drawings... by you if you have the inclination - like the cricket singing down the river with an I do't know mind...😄 love that... but I am serious about the book. You have a lot of wisdom... I heard you mostly on Forrest's podcast and now yours... That is my impression of who you are! Let your inner sage loose and do it wholly expressing who you are on the inner plane. WOW. Will look forward to that! 🙏🌺

[@clare5571]

I’ve saved this to my best ones playlist. Thank you so much.

[@patinoche]

Such a wonderful talk and, practice ! Thank you so much 🙏

[@ruthlevy3404]

Rick, I happened on this teaching which is in the essence of my being and teaching, specifically family therapy. Blessings for the skillful teaching, the relevant quotes and connections to Buddhist Psychology. I have wonderful memories of seeing you years ago at BCBS. 🙏

[@hsiao-yenyu6811]

Lao Tzu “ If you know you don’t know, it’s superior. If you don’t know but think you know, it’s sickness “

[@aileengonsalves5109]

Your talks are always really brilliant and useful and help me enormously and this one too is extremely exciting - a real game changer - I’m in the theatre and spend all day saying I don’t know and ‘discovery first’ and it’s the most wonderful way to work - this really helps me to do this in all parts of my life and wow that Yeats poem! Thank you 🎉

[@tzvitaylor3168]

Really a game changing attitude. Thank you

[@nicholastalbert7393]

I have been wondering for awhile that if not knowing is the end to suffering, should we continue science?