Don't Know Mind

Venus flytrap - photo by Chris Mattison

          Adaptation is the process that helps living things change in order to survive in their environment. An example is the Venus flytrap. This plant from the subtropical wetlands of the Carolinas wasn’t always a carnivorous snap-trap. It was once a plant with somewhat sticky leaves that were intended to deter damage from insects. But in its native location, the soil was nutrient-poor. The insects which got stuck on its leaves contained nitrogen and phosphorus, and so the flytrap adapted its sticky enzymes to immobilize and digest the bugs. Yet the plant could not capture larger insects, and open leaves meant birds or other animals could steal their meal. Eventually, the Venus flytrap evolved trigger hairs, a closing trap with teeth, and quick movement to adjust and improve its chances of survival.

          Imagine gathering the grains of sand from all the beaches and deserts of the world together. If these grains signify all of the accurate knowledge in the universe, how many grains would represent our own individual knowledge? Perhaps one grain? This analogy is similar to the Zen teaching of ‘Don’t Know Mind,’ the realization that no matter how much we know, there is infinitely more we don’t. Don’t Know Mind frees us from our limited, stale ideas and concepts; it includes all the potential wisdom contained in the universe. We can cease our intellectual contortions and stay open to other possibilities. This state of being curious and teachable should be distinguished from doubt and confusion, which cloud rather than clarify. It doesn’t require that we discard what we know and suspend our questions and interpretations. As Gil Fronsdal explained, “Not-knowing means not being limited by what we know, holding what we know lightly so that we are ready for it to be different.” This type of open-mindedness can help us adjust and evolve in a world of uncertainty.

For more information on open-mindedness, see this post.