Source · The First and Last Freedom
#self
#truth
#obstacle
💭 What does this mean to you?
Every soul reads the same words differently. Add your interpretation.
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On the surface, this statement asserts that your personal sense of self, your ego, is the primary impediment to understanding truth. It suggests that the beliefs, memories, desires, and fears that constitute your identity prevent you from seeing things clearly. The 'self' acts like a distorted lens, coloring all perception.
Krishnamurti, drawing from modern non-dual thought, points to the constructed nature of the self. This 'me' is not a fixed entity but a bundle of conditioned thoughts and sensations, a psychological construct arising from memory and societal conditioning. The obstacle isn't a 'bad' self, but the very *idea* of a separate, enduring self that obstructs the direct apprehension of reality. Truth, in this context, is not something to be acquired or believed, but the unmediated awareness of what is, free from the interference of the ego's interpretations and judgments. The self, by its very nature, seeks to maintain its own existence and continuity, which inherently conflicts with the fluid, ever-changing nature of truth.
In your life: Notice when your reactions are driven by a need to protect or enhance your sense of self, and observe how this impulse colors your perception of a situation.