It’s easy to imagine what’s on the other side of inquiry. I can put my hopes there, or my fears.
I will be lazy. Cruel. Unkind. I won’t take care of myself.
So I can go ahead and do the inquiry, and see what happens.
And I can also take my stories about what’s on the other side of inquiry to inquiry, and see what I find.
Reminder: A friend of a friend seemed to think that inquiry on the thought it’s possible to hurt someone would lead to unkindness. What I find is that taking any of these stories as true, whether it’s possible to hurt someone or it’s not possible to hurt someone, leads to confusion and what may appear as unkindness. And clarity tends to reveal a natural kindness that appears wise in ordinary and human ways.