This post is the third in the series of elucidations on the purpose of this blog and the subjective position of our project.

“To study the self is to forget the self”; to forget the self is to be actualized by myriad things” says the 13^th-century zen master Dôgen Kigen and by the same token we hold that to know, one has to be open towards the world. Not only because the knowledge attained by the self is inherently limited but also because of the dynamic and ever changing field of human condition. Thus, openness is essential in knowing and an ignorantly wise person has realized this – and constantly realizes it again by practicing openness.

By practicing openness, the myriad things do indeed come to actualize the self. In other words, the ignorant self is indefinitely open towards the world and its beings, which by virtue of this openness begin to take on different hues. These hues are altogether quite invisible if one feels certain in one’s knowledge – i.e., if the subject is clinging to one’s ego. This ego-consciousness is the root source of much evil and misunderstanding between humans and different beings, but also the source of much discomfort in one’s person. Additionally, it is a cause for hierarchies and divisions, which hinder wisdom.

Due to this clinging, the subject does not meet other persons authentically nor does the clinging subject truly get to know others nor him or herself either. Clinging to one’s false egotistical views the subject rather begins to control the world around him or herself and organizes the world according to ego’s whimsical yet firmly held beliefs.

As an antidote to ego’s poison, we present ignorant wisdom, which can lead to a more open view towards others and the world and thus can lead to a loosening of the ego’s grip. By being ignorant, the subject can transcendent the ego and go beyond ego’s false notions and self-clinging. In such a transcendence the subject can settle into the midst of the world and its beings. When in the midst of the world, the subject can freely express his or her openness by being curious towards sentient beings and worldly phenomena. 

In the next post, we will elucidate upon curiosity.