Entry 42 - Lesson of Learning From All

7/23/19

I learn from kids, I learn from animals, I learn from the Earth, I learn from all people of all races, religions, culture, I learn from everybody. There's not one person I can't learn from. I think the danger comes from the mindset that we can't learn from someone because they don't share our same exact beliefs, or our same viewpoints, or the same stance on issues that we have. I believe we learn most when our own beliefs are challenged; when we learn about new beliefs that bring forth a new way of perceiving or which validates the perception we currently have, or when it deepens the meaning of perception that we already have. If you only think a certain way, and you never challenge yourself to think a different way, then how much can you actually learn from what you already know? But if you're constantly learning inside and outside of your community, from all people, all situations, all things, what is there that you can't learn? For you are open to the whole world. You are open to the wisdom of all people.

It should be obvious that when you set no limit on who you learn from, your learning can be limitless. But when you shy away from those who are different from you, your learning is confined by the limitations you place around you. It's as if you've fenced yourself in by the boundaries you've chosen to put up. It's like the Truman Show, but from the beginning you know where you are, and you always will be, in the confines of your own boundary and limits.

Maybe you realize someone's Hindu and you think to yourself, "I can't possibly learn anything from them." Or you meet a Buddhist and you instantly shut down at the thought of them being able to teach you something. Maybe it's because you're afraid that what they have to say could threaten and make your religion seem less special. Maybe you're afraid of your ideologies being challenged because you've placed your identity within these ideologies. Whatever it may be, setting limits on what we learn from others only leaves room for ignorance and stops us from realizing the interconnectedness we all share when form is stripped. Even though I'm a Christian, that doesn't mean I only learn from Christians. I've learned so much from so many different people, and I am so grateful for every person who has taught me something regardless of their race, gender, culture, religion, etc. To some that might be threatening, but to me, it's truly enlightening.

You soon realize there is no limit to what you can learn from others and then as you begin to absorb all these new lessons, you start to see patterns, similarities, connections and then begin to realize we're a lot more connected and similar than we once thought we were. We actually share a lot of the same deep meanings and messages as one another, when stripped of form and our awareness increases. We realize that goodness isn't prescribed to one single religion or possessed by one group of people, but that it is from God and available to all at any time in every way regardless of who they are, where they are, where they're from and what they believe. Your eyes open to the spaciousness of the universe and the connectedness to one another, and you develop a deep peace, knowing that in the end, it all works out.