Daily Quote, Thursday August 27, 2009.

Good sunny morning!

Here is today's quote:

A man who says 'I know' is the most destructive human being.

A man who says 'I know' is the most destructive human being because he really does not know. What does he know? So when you are conscious you are transformed, when you are aware that you are transformed, you are not.

The Collected Works, Vol. VIII - 5

Here are my reflections.

Why do we not know? Is it lack of actual information; have we not done enough research, and consulted the right authorities? Or is is that knowing and understanding are mutually exclusive? Does the man who knows only know from a fragment, from his culture, his memory, his guru?

And why is this dangerous? Is there insufficient information; one man can't know everything? Or is it that knowing serves another purpose? Is it that knowing, saying that I know, is more about the "I" - its creation and maintenance - than it is the "know"? Is this need to strengthen the "I" the most dangerous thing we can do? Does this create unity, affection, listening, and love? Or does it build walls of images and anger?

So the whole question of transformation gets caught up it in this. Is not the whole saying of "I am" enlightened not an actualisation of the ego, the ego working through something, some project, reaching some destination, something that is known? But is it not the case, that enlightenment cannot be known - just felt, sensed, looked at impartially and understood with compassion - and for that there must be no "I". Even recognising that it cannot be known is the re-appearance of the "I": I know it can't be known!

Surely, a man who says 'I know' destroys for himself the possibility of love?

Best wishes

Robert