Introduction
This reflection is about struggling to understand something which, to begin with, seems ungraspable. It is about having enlightenment.
Reflection
In the afternoon, I had written some questions and comments in response to another’s thoughts. During last night I suddenly realised that this was not what was wanted—needed—what I had done was just what we naturally do: pitch one idea against another, seek clarification, explanation, prise out more. I realised that something different was needed. I needed to listen to you—truly listen—and what follows is what I scratched down to try and capture what I realised. It is, pretty well, as it came.
I started off thinking. For me, if the conditions are right, we can plug into consciousness and know something of it (realise our part in it, that is my view)—this is like a sort of synthesis of say six parts in order to appreciate a seventh which is an outcome but more—fairly rational. For you, we can become receptive and in that state receive knowledge (in packages, in bubbles), an appreciation of the ‘seventh part’ direct—fairly mystic.
We are both looking for the point at which the “bubble" bursts, opens. I was having trouble, something was preventing me seeing anything except your view of this, and my view of this, and your view of this, and so on. Then, I had a new thought. It came into my mind—I saw your words and my words and there were spaces between them and this thought came from the side, and between them in the spaces, and to me. In the spaces there was nothing until the thought came in and moved into the spaces. This thought was what you had said about me now listening to your voice, and what had the matter of revelation, inner transformation, to do with practical philosophy, and I realised that this was your time—I should listen to what you were showing us (not what I was thinking, which was different). And then I found myself concerned with what it is that happens when this bubble opens—what is the experience of the point of revelation and what is the realisation? Yes, now I must listen to you—what you have told me, and I must find what I can make of it.
You are interested in the "point of impact", the "coming to know". But how can I help you understand that? What is it about, when I don’t know what it is about? There was a sense of emptiness, sort of hopelessness. Then suddenly I realised—that’s it, of course! It is not knowing that makes us available—not knowing the answer means the answer can flow into us because it is there all the while to flow in—in bubbles, in plugging in—it is there, available, possible. What do we have to do? We have to not know. We have to be something like the open spaces between the words. We can portray that in many ways: being innocent, open, available, free, empty, hopeless even—but it is all the same, exposing our self to not knowing, having open spaces. The answer is there, ready for us to have. The realisation, the exciting realisation, arrives if there is somewhere for it to arrive into—us as open—it’s obvious, easy, plain, straightforward.
Then I thought a little later.
Of course, listening, giving full attention—what is that but an act of love? Having the interests of the other highest in your mind, having your interest in them highest in your mind. "Loving interest"—that is practical philosophy. Practical philosophy is having loving interest. Not dialogue, certainly not in the Socratic sense. Socratic dialogue is a subterfuge for Plato’s purpose. We pay too much regard to the idea of the slave boy—this is arguing something into existence. If Socrates had meant what he said about knowing nothing he would not have argued for something. Socrates did nothing to create open space. And the open space can be gifted. Loving interest is a gift. Being enlightened by the other because the other has your exclusive interest—and they are enlightened also. Both opening to each other in different ways with one purpose: insight, the breaking down of isolation, intimacy with another, seeing their consciousness behind their eyes, knowing their thoughts behind their words, knowing their love because through consciousness it has come into the open space which is you and to you.
Comments
There are several distinct phases in the progress of this reflection: realisation of not understanding, realisation of the difference between my understanding and the understanding of another, the realisation that in order to understand the other I must truly listen to the other. Then there is a "flash of light"—a revelation. This revelation informs, in an instant, that it is not knowing which allows us the space to understand, only if we provide the open space of not knowing can we come to know the other. And this is a ‘loving interest’—an act of love with the interests of the other highest in our mind.
