________________
SUTRAS
THE KEY TO THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE
105
sory knowledge but does NOT advance onto the far more intense strata of our consciousness this second channel of knowledge has the power to open. To open ourselves to new ideas and concepts means - to overcome our very own psychic barriers with which we op
pose new and uncomfortable ideas - to become aware of the emotions that make us cling to old con
cepts - to make the effort to review and discard worn-out and limiting
beliefs even if all this makes us feel uncomfortable, takes energy and might require a complete re-thinking of the world.46
The starting points are easy to find. Whenever the presentation of a (new) concept provokes strong feelings within us (e.g. repulsion, stubbornness and even anger, but also fervent defense of our old models), then it is worth the effort to examine these (new) concepts more closely. It is exactly these powerful emotions that chain us -
46 Though we consider ourselves flexible and receptive for everything
new, we nevertheless hold resolutely fast to many familiar, but wornout ideas about the world. Even if we - consciously or subconsciously - recognize that these worn-out concepts do not agree with many of our real experiences any more, we intuitively sense how much of an effort it would take to fundamentally reexamine all our existing ideas. Afraid to jeopardize our present hard-won stability, we dread the (temporary) inner insecurity that might accompany this process.
Holding fast onto old concepts solidifies our life into unmoving static that is easily mistaken for stability. But this static will always break up - at the latest when our consciousness leaves our present body. In the state we enter thereafter, we clearly recognize to what extent our concepts agree with reality. We then judge for ourselves if we need further bodily experiences to access broader levels of understanding.
In future embodiments we thus might place ourselves in a similar environment as our present one to again stimulate the dissolution of rigid and flawed concepts. If we want to avoid these recurring confrontations, it is recommended to react flexibly and positively at the presentation of new ideas already in this very life.
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org