Based on no data at all, no empirical studies, no long speeches by ancient philosophers, I believe that our hands are the conduit of wisdom. Wisdom comes through us as much through our hands as through our ears and our eyes and things like that.
We do know from scientists that brain cells aren’t just in our head; they go through the whole body. And we know that you can actually do physical tasks, repeat them, and your body will learn. It’s my experience that the part of my body that learns things the best is my hands. Like remember learning to type? Now I don’t even have to think about it; my hands just type.
The same thing happens when you play a musical instrument; your hands just, you know, do the notes. A flute or a guitar or whatever. Knitting. Anything that you do with your hands. Carving.
Human beings used to sit and work with their hands all day long. And I think that’s one of the reasons why we’re a little crazier these days because our heads just go, go, go, go, go when actually it’s our hands that should be going. They are an equal part of our consciousness.
So, this should be like one of the number one tenets of all nondual teachings: that wisdom comes through you, to you, through your hands. Use your hands more than you use your brain. If you find yourself sitting there trying to define Brahman or, you know, what is the essence of all things, how can I get rid of my mind? You’re never gonna do that through your mind. Start using your hands.
If you’re feeling depressed or anxious or, you know, we all have problems, right? If your problems are coming up, do something with your hands. Your hands are the conduit of wisdom. What goes through your hands then becomes wisdom in your mind, in your soul.