Let The Mind Be A Thoroughfare For All Thoughts

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 25 January 20 "The only means of strengthening one's intellect is to make up one's mind about nothing—to let the mind be a thoroughfare for all thoughts." This spirit of the aforementioned Keatsian thought must be imbibed by all monomaniacs. In this thought-provoking quote, John Keats emphasizes the importance of intellectual growth through open-mindedness and a willingness to explore all thoughts. According to Keats, true intellectual strength lies not in adhering to fixed opinions, but in embracing the constant influx of ideas and perspectives. He suggests that by refusing to make up one's mind about anything, the mind becomes a thoroughfare – a conduit through which all thoughts can freely flow. By doing so, individuals have the opportunity to expand their intellectual horizon, gaining new insights and forming well-rounded viewpoints. Keats encourages a mindset of curiosity, urging individuals to reject rigidity and instead embrace the dynamic nature of the intellectual realm. In this way, he suggests that true intellectual growth can be achieved. But the trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it! They'll also impose their own fixed perceptions on you just the way a supremely 'gifted' gentleman thinks that his threadbare and hackneyed 'cow metaphor' will never lose its novelty even if he uses it ad nauseam. This is an ideal example of a closed mind. Monomaniacs always think that the mind of their rivals is also closed and rusty because they want to see the world and people as per their turbid perceptions. That's seriously flawed. Nothing is irreproachable. No truth is the final truth. A free and open mind is unfettered by all dogmas and beliefs. Manacled by a host of specialized prejudices, pseudo-intellectuals consciously as well as subconsciously try to justify their sublimated prejudices. But a fixed belief is a fixed belief, however sublime it may appear to you and a few others ready to eat out of (the palm of) your hand. So, when theists and atheists spar, I smile. When theists leave no stone unturned to claim that their stance or their faith is right and when non-believers are full of arrogance that comes from (nihilistic) negation, a wise person smirks. To quote Sahir Ludhianvi, "Ye Raah Kahan Se Hai, Ye Raah Kahan Tak Hai/ Ye Raah Koi Raahi Samjha Hai Na Jaana Hai" (From 'Sansaar Ki Har Shai Ka Itna Hi Fasana Hai', Film: Dhund, 1973): "Where's this path from and where does it lead to/ No traveller has ever been able to figure it out." Though it's well-nigh impossible to have a mind like a Tabula Rasa (Latin for A Clean Slate, used by the English philosopher John Locke) when one interacts with a spectrum of people with varying levels of intelligence, one should at least be conscious of garbage coming in. That constant garbage must be dropped and dumped at regular intervals so that the mind can receive only the very best. ------ A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/mind-thoroughfare-thoughts/d/134426 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism