What is 1 + 1 = ?

That might appear quite silly and might not draw our attention since the answer appears to be obvious.

But if we care to notice deeply we would find different answers to this equation. For example:

a) 1 + 1 = 2

b) 1 + 1 = 10 (in binary code)

c) 1 + 1 = 1 (sticking together two blobs of chewing gums)

d) 1 + 1 = 0 or negative (a shell hitting a small house)

e) 1 + 1 = multiple (one male rabbit + one female rabbit = multiple rabbits)

f) 1 + 1 = indeterminate (one tablespoon of sugar + one glass of water)

g) 1 + 1 = neither 1 nor 2 (a pregnant mother with a baby in her womb)

h) 1 + 1 = living (one inhalation + one exhalation = living)

Noticing something different than what is usually seen is the first step of developing mindfulness. We are not weighed down by what we know or have learned from others. As soon as we notice in this way we are automatically engaged with something in a very creative way.

Ref: Our workshop on Mindfulness, Personal Transformation & Creativity