Often, when
we ask a question, we already have an answer
in mind, partly formed, at least. And so, if
the answer from outside does not concur with
our preconceptions, we are reluctant to accept
it; the mind is very good at rationalization,
at finding reasons to dismiss something as ‘incorrect’,
‘unsuitable’, or as ‘not feeling
right’. This is not to say, of course,
that answers from others are always better than
our own; to suppose that would mean being prejudiced
in the other direction, would it not?
Many
of us ask questions just for the sake of it,
without real interest or desire to learn, and
pay no attention to the answers. Needless to
say, this is a waste of time.
If we
would spend more time quietly thinking things
over instead of just scratching the surface,
more time in trying to formulate and express
our questions clearly instead of just blurting
them out, we would learn much more. The answers
are not always outside of ourselves. |
