Without WOW factor, life becomes mechanical

The fear of the unknown is a very common human trait. Most people are constantly engaged in making sure that their world plays out just like how their mind imagines it.

By :  migrator
Update: 2017-06-13 09:05 GMT

Chennai

However, the reality is that there is no possibility for growth without embracing the unknown. When we shut off the mystery or awe factor in life, we not only curtail growth, but also unknowingly make life mechanical. 

Life is a combination of what is certain and what is unknown. Though they appear to be opposite, life is incomplete if either one is missing. Within the sphere of limited perception there is a part in us that is certain about some things. There is another part that is always probing into the unknown, triggering wonderment about many mysteries. The wise are the ones who acquire the skills to face and handle uncertainty. 

The way of the wise is to see uncertainty with a sense of wonderment. Wonderment is the beginning of new knowledge. Creativity dawns by stretching the wonder. The attitude of ‘I know’ makes one closed and limited. The more one knows, the more wonderment dawns about the unknown. It is beautifully said in the Upanishads, “One who says, I don’t know, knows it, and the one who says, I know, doesn’t know!” 

Life is a combination of old and new. The person who only wonders looks lost and confused. And the one who is certain about everything, takes things for granted and tends to become inert and dull. The ability to strike the perfect balance of surety with a sense of awe is a sign of growth in life. When we are in awe, we see things differently and our powers of observation become sharp. 

In an awakened state, when the eyes close with a sense of awe, that is meditation. Our perception of the world does not really matter to ‘what is’. 

This creation is an unfathomable secret and when we become sure about it, its mysteries deepen. Deepening the mystery of creation is science and deepening the mystery of the Self is spirituality. If neither science nor spirituality can create wonder in you, then you are in a deep slumber. 

Wonderment creates the desire to probe deeper. Though we are born curious, we tend to lose the probing nature when we disconnect ourselves from the real awe factor of life. Regaining our sense of curiosity is important to our success. When we begin to ask a lot of questions without judgment, unknown facets of life start unfolding.  Wonder is a question for which we don’t seek an answer. Drop the sense of being right and knowledgeable. Wonder about the world that you don’t know yet. There is charm beyond the mundane. The unknown world is beyond what is seen and imagined. Close your eyes, meditate, quieten the mind and deepen the wonder. Wonderment is said to be the preface to yoga,  the union.

— The writer is the founder of Art of Living Foundation and can be reached www.artofliving.org

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