Ignorance is the utter lack of self-knowing

"Ignorance exists even though one may have great knowledge, a good education, be sophisticated, have capacity in the exercise of which one achieves fame, notoriety, money. Ignorance is not dispelled by the accumulation of a great many facts and much information—the computer can do all that better than the human mind. Ignorance is the utter lack of self-knowing. Most of us are superficial, shallow, have so much sorrow and ignorance as part of our lot. Again, this is not an exaggeration, not an assumption, but an actual fact of our daily existence. We are ignorant of ourselves and therein lies great sorrow. That ignorance breeds every form of superstition, it perpetuates fear, engenders hope and despair and all the inventions and theories of a clever mind. So ignorance not only breeds sorrow, but brings about great confusion in ourselves.

Until we begin to break down this vicious circle of ignorance which only creates further ignorance, self-reliance cannot bring about release from sorrow. Yet to understand this continuity of ignorance and sorrow, each one must become utterly self-reliant to be able to probe into craving, fear, tendencies, memories, and so on. Mere self-expression is not creativeness, and to be truly creative, one must understand the process of the self and so be free from it. Through earnest awareness as to what it is that is expressing itself, we begin to understand the limited causes of the past which control the present, and in this strenuous understanding there comes a freedom from the cause of ignorance. True self-reliance, not the self-reliance for the purpose of mere aggressive expression of the self, can come about only through understanding the process of craving, with its limiting values, fears, and hopes; then self-reliance has great significance, for through one´s own strenuous awareness there is a wholeness, a completeness."

-Krishnamurti-
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Comments (22)

Beginningless ignorance

To be able to experience reality, you must be free of all the masks which you have developed in the struggle for acquisition, born of craving. These masks do not conceal reality. We are apt to think that, by getting rid of these masks, we will find reality or that, by uncovering the many layers of want, we will discover that which is hidden; thus, we are assuming that, behind this ignorance, or in the depths of consciousness, or beyond this friction of will, of craving, lies reality. This consciousness of many masks, of many layers, does not conceal within itself reality. But, as we begin to comprehend the process of development of these masks, these layers of consciousness, and as consciousness frees itself from its volitional growth, there is reality.
Our conception that man is divine but limited, that beauty is concealed by ugliness, wisdom buried under ignorance, supreme intelligence hiding in darkness, is utterly erroneous.I n discerning how, through this beginningless ignorance and its activities, there has arisen the 'I'-process, and in bringing that process to an end, there is enlightenment. It is an experience of that which is immeasurable, which cannot be described but is.
Enlightenment is achieved by few.

And fewer still strive for it.
Hey Swami,

too many people who tried to dig way deeper trying to find out the mystery of their existence lost their mind...I prefer to accept my limitations, face reality...make the most out of it, enjoy life and be happy.

too much thinking and Philosophy can be self deteriorating...it's a lot better to keep it simple and just be yourself without caring what others or society expect you to be...at the end of the day, the only person you are answerable to is yourself.sigh
My crazy heart,

I understand your point of view .... You are right that digging may bring people to lose their mind .....

I like the paralel made by Osho He said we all should be a kind of Zorba-Budhha.
Being full of passion, living end enjoying our life, and also being full of respect, atention, and religiousity for the great mystery of life.
Being in the topic of your blogs .... tantra may be right waylaugh
Swami,

I love life, I'm a fun loving person...I love nature and my fellow human beings...I see and respect them for what they are and simply try to happily co-exist with them.

I find the deeper and innermost meaning of my life in everything I experience on daily basis...that's how I broaden my self knowledge.dancing
I did not asked you to justify. comfort
You don't need to...neither do I need to justify myself....just saying....and this is what blogging is all aboutcheers
Of course .... different persons, different ways to see the world and enjoy the life ....wine
Oh la la...lot of philosophy here...much too deep for me..confused
daniela... how may i help you?laugh
I don't know Swami...at the moment I could do with a nice leg massage. Are you into that?
Then I could get my guitar and play you a tune? Do you like classical guitar?
Massage ... I was in Vietnam for a year laugh
I like guitar .... Tango
I went to a massage center with my own massage book and told them to apply what is in the booklaugh
They said that I am craziest man they metlaugh
Oh well..let's forget about the massage...

Do you like some Reiki?
I heard about it. But I am more familiar with the chinese Tao (Dao).
As a man I was more interested about what Mantak Chia says and teach.
Never heard??? For me I've been following the shamanic healing practices of the Andes.

Btw. I've just replied to your question on the other blog.
Then we may continue here.
About hell. I was in a situation that I already made a plan on which street corner I should start to beg for earning my daily bread.
I was convinced that I will never have on other chance to return. Every morning I went to the church when nobody was there and cryied. Long 5 years. But never give up. With a little bit luck all become past.
Or as you say .... Shycronicity.....
Well...I don't know how you got yourself into that But... obviously you had something to learn and eventually your luck turned and you were saved..or rescued.

Sometimes we need to get in the darkest places in order to see the light.
There are times in our life when we come to a cross roads and...if we take the wrong turning and ignore the signs...well...we need to pay the price and suffer the consequences. sigh

But...we are of course given warnings and guidance along the way...if only we hear those little voices in our head or take notice of those synchronicities...
It would be much easier.
Yes. Not always easy ..also not to stay awake when work requires to sleeplaugh
So I say to you ... wish you a nice evening
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Swami

Swami

Vienna, Austria

I am In Vienna starting with June 2018.

Relationships are how those are. People have expectations and/or aspirations. And they do their best. Sometimes with no success, other times with great joy. We are all humans. [read more]