To be okay with not knowing

[u/kyaniteblue_007]

Questions such as "is there a God, who is this God, what are his characteristics, What is the purpose/meaning of life?"

Such questions always lingered in our mind, more or less. Some seek refuge in science, or religion, just so for maintaining their sanity, and hope to know the answer to their questions.

But let's put things into a different perspective: When you look at a portrait, a painting, does the knowledge of who created the portrait change how you feel towards it? In most cases, no. If we enjoy the painting, we like it. If we think it's ugly, then we dislike it. Having knowledge of the creator won't magically change how we perceive the work.

Now imagine life as a piece of art. A portrait signed with an invisible ink. We can't read the sign to know who made it, and any effort to discover the creator is futile. The truth is simply beyond the comprehension of our mind.

There's nothing wrong in questioning purpose, and meaning, as this is part of our journey. But do not delve into this hole for all your life. Ultimately, one must be content in not knowing. Once we are in terms with this fact, we start to see life for what it is, and enjoy it to the fullest extent. All the light and dark colours, all the contrast and contradictions, all the ups and downs, happiness and pain, the diversities, we swim through it and admire life for what it is.

Life simply is, we simply are. See the painting and be mindful that the canvas is holding it all together. So in the midst of all the contrasts and contradictions, the pure canvas is what unites all.

You are the canvas my friend. We all are.

[u/Radiant_Bowl_2598]

“The purpose of this life is to live a live with purpose, so dont get caught inside your safety net. So fill your well and light your flame, but go on seeking service. Life without a cause is life without effect” -Wookiefoot

[u/lowchinghoo]

The butterfly dream, when ZhuangZhouwoke up, he was unsure if he was a man who dreamed he was a butterfly, or if he was a butterfly who dreamed he was a man. It's OK to be unsure not knowing.

[u/OldDog47]

Your shift in perspective is interesting ... and effective.

We may not be able to have complete and understandable answers to the questions of life, but that does not mean they should not be asked and sought after. Because, they help us understand who we are and how we might relate to each other and the world. The purpose of life is to live it, to participate in existence, for whatever measure of time we are allotted. You are right in suggesting that it is not important to completely understand the source of life, but we can put enough of the pieces of the puzzle together to see its consistency and coherency and to realize there is purpose and meaning.

[u/NaraKnows]

I love the analogy of life as a piece of art—it's a reminder that our experiences, whether joyful or painful, contribute to the richness of our existence.

It’s true that focusing too much on the “why” can lead us down a rabbit hole that distracts us from simply living and appreciating the moment. Embracing the unknown and finding contentment in the present is such a powerful way to experience life.

We’re all part of this grand masterpiece, and recognizing ourselves as the canvas can help us appreciate the intricate details of our journey.

[u/VanDenBroeck]

I did not need to know that.

[u/islandjahfree]

“I have been and still am a seeker, but I have ceased to question stars and books; I have begun to listen to the teaching my blood whispers to me.” Herman Hesse

[u/Mesantos_]

People who crave control crave all the answers. They NEED to know, and care more about, who painted the portrait because it gives them a sense of control and power in their life. They crave control often because their earliest life was emotionally repressive and they were not given opportunities to appropriately express themselves. This is a particularly poor beginning for males, who already have a biology that put them in a predisposition for choosing control over acceptance. But even though it's on average easier for women to survive such a scenario, we can struggle, too. I often struggle with wanting control in my life. Wanting to know what the "real" answers are, and feeling like a gross animal until I get them.

Acceptance means putting what you know at the bottom of the list and putting your interests and observational skills higher. It took me thirty years to learn how to do this, I'm still bad at it, but even the small amount I learned to do has elevated me higher than any worrying or obsession did.

Also, both can exist at the same time! You can know things and also live in acceptance of our reality of no control. The other side is trying to use knowledge to create reality, and this side is learning what's true by living in the unalterable reality.

Balance in all things. Thanks for sharing and giving me these thoughts.

[u/liquidnougat]

I love not knowing stuff because when something bad happens I can say "I didn't know" and not lie :)

[u/Artistic_Memory_8636]

The purpose of life is to remember who you really are 😉

[u/Artistic_Memory_8636 → u/Artistic_Memory_8636]

You've constructed a story for yourself, full of love and loss, just enjoy it. That's why you created it