Are You a Spiritual
Dummy?
"The truth is that everyone is a spiritual dummy, because the essence
of God and spirituality is inherently unknowable by the mind. There are spiritual
dummies who know they are dummies, and spiritual dummies who don't know they
are dummies. Those who know they are spiritual dummies are the smart
ones!"
- From the introduction of Spirituality For
Dummies
by Sharon Janis
January 2008: The New Second Edition is Now Available!
The first edition of my new book had just rolled off the press when I realized
that the "dummies" thing was going to be an issue. One academic
acquaintance expressed concern for what people in his college town would
say if they saw him purchasing a book called Spirituality For Dummies at
the local Borders. Did he really want to subject himself to the potential
teasing and ribbing from any colleagues who might happen to walk into the
store at that moment? No, he told me, he would wait until the book arrived
at the local Wal-Mart, where he'd be less likely to be spotted by other scholars.
(I suggested that he could avoid all this trauma by simply ordering the book
from
Amazon.com,
who would deliver it in a plain brown box.)
Then there was Brian from Saipan, who wrote the following
confession:
Dear Sharon:
"Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it."
-- P.J. O'Rourke
Given the truth contained in the above quote from your book, it took real courage to walk to the sales counter at the Honolulu Ala Moana Waldenbook's in Hawaii with that yellow and black "Dummies" under my arm. (Actually, I had it covered up with copies of the New King James version of the Bible and the Koran.) I think IDG should publish the same books under another imprint like "______ for Precocious Intellectuals ".
Fortunately, Brian then went on to say that it was worth it. But can
you imagine? Hiding my book between the Bible and the Koran!
Of course, along the way I have also encountered humble souls –
some of them quite spiritually accomplished – who have seen or heard
the title and quipped, "That's the book for me!" To me, these are the winners
of the dummies test. Most of these folks are not saying this to put themselves
down at all. Rather, they realize that they don't -- and can't -- fully
understand the profound nature and depths of spirituality. This shows that
they may have attained a higher knowledge than those who would harrumph at
the insinuation that they are dummies. Perhaps some of those who consider
themselves to be "serious spiritual adepts" are missing the cosmic joke that
exists beyond our limited ideas of who and what we are – the humility,
acceptance, and surrender to knowing we do not know.
I share with you the following excerpt from Chapter 1 of (the first edition of) Spirituality
For Dummies, to hopefully convince you that you really are a dummy, and that
this is a good thing!
From Spirituality For Dummies, Chapter One:
The First Step: Knowing That You Don't Know
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt
of in your philosophy."
-- William Shakespeare
A statement in the Indian scriptures states, "He who thinks he knows,
knows not; while he who thinks he knows not, truly knows." This statement
implies that the person who thinks he knows is the most ignorant. Why is
this?
Humans don't – can't – know everything, at least not in the
way people usually think of who they are and how they know things. Countless
layers of knowledge can be unraveled in every direction you look, from a
seemingly infinite sea of galaxies to the invisible atoms on this page. As
a four- to seven-foot-tall human being walking upon this floating pebble
of water, rock, and moss (that is, the earth) with temporary use of approximately
three pounds of electro-chemical brain jelly to work with, you'll never be
able to figure it all out. Everybody knows this deep inside, but sometimes
people find it more comfortable to try and convince themselves and others
that they have it all together and know what's happenin'.
No matter what you're trying to learn, you can only gain a new skill
or take in new information if you first admit to yourself that you don't
already know everything about that particular field. In the spiritual quest
also, the receptive stance that comes when you let go of the need to feel
in control is the first step in opening up to greater spiritual
expansion.
Two kinds of ignorance
There are two kinds of ignorance: positive ignorance and negative
ignorance:
* Positive ignorance is when you don't know and you
know you don't know. This awareness keeps you open and receptive to divine
guidance. Knowing you don't know brings you to your knees before God and
helps you to enter a humble and prayerful state.
* Negative ignorance is when you don't know, but you think you
do know. This is really a double ignorance that closes the door to your own
divine guidance. Thinking you know when you don't really know is like traveling
to a party on the other side of town with no idea of where the house is,
but being too proud and stubborn to admit it and ask directions. Negative
ignorance makes you drive around in circles and miss the party of spiritual
jubilation!
Once, a university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While
the master quietly served tea, the professor talked on and on about all the
intricacies of Zen philosophy. The master poured the visitor's cup to the
brim and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup for
several moments, until he could no longer restrain himself, and finally blurted
out, "It's overfull! No more will go in!"
"You are like this cup," the master replied, "How can I show you Zen
until you first empty your cup?"
He who thinks he knows not, truly knows. Because at least if you think
you don't know, you're right!
When you really know you don't know, it may – strangely enough
– make you feel a bit more bold and confident than before; because knowing
you don't know can bring a greater sense of security and maybe a bit of chutzpah
(a Yiddish term for cheekiness or brazenness).
Quotes by smart people who knew they didn't know
The funny thing about empirical knowledge is that it just goes on and
on. Every aspect of this world opens into entire new vistas, with seemingly
unending divisions, forms, and theories. Each question uncovers more knowledge
and even more questions.
Some of the great thinkers discovered this tricky truth and entered
into the humility of not knowing:
"We don't know a millionth of one percent about anything." – Thomas Edison
"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they
are free." – Goethe
"The more I know, the more I realize I don't know." – Albert
Einstein
"The fool thinks he is wise . . . The wise man knows himself to be a
fool." – William Shakespeare
"I know only that I do not know." – Socrates
READ SAMPLE PAGES from the new 2nd Edition
:
The Table of Contents
Chapter 1: "Finding Authentic Spirituality"
The eclectic and extensive index
Every copy of Spirituality For Dummies comes with
A CD of inspiring devotional music!
The Spirituality For Dummies 2nd Edition music CD comes in the back of every book and gives a delicious taste of inspiring spiritual music, including Gregorian chanting, Christian songs, Buddhist texts, Jewish prayers, Hindu chants, Latin hymns, and gospel music, sung by artists including Erik Peterson, Cantor Kathy Robbins, The Eternal OM, the Desert Fathers, Kali Mandir, Premanand Trikannad, Swami Nirvanananda, and the author.
CLICK anywhere on the CD montage to listen to Sample Songs
