Curiosity and The Desire to Learn

“Mindfulness without curiosity is impossible. When we turn toward our present-moment experience we do that in order to learn about it, to perceive it fully. When we are on autopilot there is no space for curiosity. We can explore how being curious changes our perception of the moment. It’s the antidote for autopilot and boredom. We can become curious about anything if we choose to, asking questions like: “What is here that I’m not yet aware of?” or “What is this?” ~ Christiane Wolf, MD, PH D and J. Greg Serpa, PHD

 

Curiosity is an attitude that shines naturally and brightly in our pets and small children. When my youngest was very little, the question I heard often was: What’s next? Getting in the car after school: Mom, what’s next? We’re driving home. When we got home before getting out of the car: Mom, what’s next?  We’re going to open the door, get out of the car, open the gate, walk into our yard and…you see where I’m going with this? It’s no wonder I was on bedrest for the last two months of that pregnancy. I was carrying a tiny human who to this day, at age 17, is looking at the horizon and planning what’s next. 

There is nothing wrong with “What’s next?” We can invite the attitude of curiosity into our questions, wondering, planning, dreaming, imagining with the desire to learn and cultivate understanding about what it is we are creating. Curiosity into fielding the question of, What's next? A question that is naturally full of curiosity and wonder!

Curiosity as antidote for autopilot. When we find ourselves on autopilot, in this day and age, that might be the automatic pick up of the phone to check and see what notifications are on the screen and click, click, click. When this happens, we can pause. Take three slow breaths. Feel our feet touching the ground, breathe into the heart and inquire, is this really necessary or can this wait? Is there anything urgent that really needs tending to or can I put the phone down (or not pick it up for the moment) and be. Be what? Present. Maybe something else is more important. Like picking up Ollie and continuing to trim her hair while I await response from the vet about her next hair cut. Which will be done by the time he replies by the looks of it. Curiosity to notice what else is here. In this case, something -- someone -- else needs my attention more than my phone.

Curiosity as antidote for boredom. Interestingly, boredom is also known as a portal to creativity. When my kids were younger and our goddaughter lived with us, I left them all a note one day: “No screen time. Let yourselves get bored. It’s the portal to creativity.” No one burnt down the house or died of boredom that day. When I was growing up, there was almost a fear of boredom, an instilled belief that boredom was bad or dangerous, a time when kids got into trouble. I’m sure the message I received growing up came from somewhere and I value that for what it was. And, in meditation, we are always looking at the relationship. How we are relating to our experience, moment to moment. Relationships change. When boredom is present, we can pause and notice what it feels like and be. Be what? Aware. Aware that boredom is present and how we are relating to boredom. What do you do when you feel bored?

 

As a friend recently wrote to me about curiosity, "It keeps us awake and engaged. Looking for answers. And finding questions we have in the back of our minds, but never had a form until we see something that reminds us it was always there." The question, 'What’s next?' just might be another way of saying, 'What is here right now?' Because no matter how much we may wish to slow down time as our lives speed by, there is no going back. Years go by, hair turns gray, kids grow up and the next breath – as long as we are alive – is going to happen and then the one after that and so on. We only get so many breaths each time around.

Curiosity as gateway to presence. A desire to learn offers an opportunity to experience the moment with a little less forward motion and a little more width and depth to notice what else is here that we may not have noticed before. This moment is brand new. The next breath has never happened before. No matter how many times I’ve sat in this window seat, written on this computer, sipped coffee from this mug, felt the south sun warming my back, this is the first time today. That makes the experience brand new. Ignites a curiosity to open to what else is here. Within and around me. 

We can invite curiosity to the familiar and unfamiliar and tap into the magic as well as the mundane. There is no separation between the practical and the mystical. To be deeply aware and fully present connects us to all that is here. Curiosity is infinite in its ability to teach us even when it feels unavailable or like curiosity has taken a nap. As a student shared in class yesterday, we can be curious about not feeling curious. And we can do this while remembering the two wings of mindfulness: non-judgmental awareness and compassion. Heart qualities soften our experience and remind us whenever possible, to hold our experience lightly. Let it be what it is and remember, this too will change.

Curiosity as pathway to rejuvenation. Openness with fresh perspective can rejuvenate and revitalize our relationships with ourselves --- bodies, breaths, minds, hearts --- our loved ones, the less than favorite ones, art projects and the laundry, gray rainy weather to hair blown windy days and the sunny still days in between. This moment is vast and every moment is brand new. As curiosity grows within the relationship with ourselves, we can expand curiosity into our relationship with others.

 

As we moves towards closing this piece, a reflection: Is there any place in your life right now that could feel enlivened, rejuvenated, revitalized by inviting the attitude of curiosity and desire to learn into this relationship? A place, a creative endeavor, the relationship with yourself, another person, group, the earth?

In any moment, we can invite the attitude of curiosity and the desire to learn. In our ever changing world and as we become aware of our differences, we can desire to learn about each other with the intention of understanding one another better. We can celebrate our different backgrounds, cultures, geographical locations, socioeconomic status, orientation, identities, dreams, aspirations, likes and dislikes by slowing down, stepping back and perceiving what is in front of us with fresh new eyes and the desire to learn. We only know what we know and there is so much more to learn and ways to grow.

May your curiosity be bright and desire to learn remain awake.

Humbly yours,

Tehroma

 

Hokusai Says by Roger S. Keyes

"Hokusai says look carefully.
He says pay attention, notice.
He says keep looking, stay curious.
He says there is no end to seeing.

He says look forward to getting old.
He says keep changing,
you just get more who you really are.
He says get stuck, accept it, repeat
yourself as long as it is interesting.

He says keep doing what you love.

He says keep praying.

He says everyone of us is a child,
everyone of us is ancient,
everyone of us has a body.
He says everyone of us is frightened.
He says everyone of us has to find
a way to live with fear.

He says everything is alive–
shells, buildings, people, fish,
mountains, trees, wood is alive.
Water is alive.

Everything has its own life.

Everything lives inside us.

He says live with the world inside you.

He says it doesn’t matter if you draw,
or write books. It doesn’t matter
if you saw wood, or catch fish.
It doesn’t matter if you sit at home
and stare at the ants on your veranda
or the shadows of the trees
and grasses in your garden.
It matters that you care.

It matters that you feel.

It matters that you notice.

It matters that life lives through you.

Contentment is life living through you.
Joy is life living through you.
Satisfaction and strength
is life living through you.

Peace is life living through you.

He says don’t be afraid.
Don’t be afraid.

Look, feel, let life take you by the hand.

Let life live through you."

Roger S. Keyes