The Book of Not Knowing Quotes

“An inner dialogue runs pretty much unceasingly though our minds. Sometimes we listen; sometimes we barely notice. The commands and assessments of this story line are there all the same, even if the depth of their influence goes unnoticed. But the most dangerous fictions aren’t those we recognize as stories. Of more concern to us here are the ones we assume to be real.”
― Peter Ralston, The Book of Not Knowing: Exploring the True Nature of Self, Mind, and Consciousness

“just try to imagine what it might be like to experience an authentic, genuine you, free of all your ideas about yourself. With your awareness cleared of all the conceptualizing that usually dominates your experience—your beliefs, history, education, assumptions, drives, emotions, etc.—you might have a sense of being present even without really knowing what it is that’s being present. You might simply have an immediate and genuine experience, unobstructed by self-image, personal history, or any other self-oriented activities. Imagine the freedom of experiencing life, others, and self from such an open position.”
― Peter Ralston, The Book of Not Knowing: Exploring the True Nature of Self, Mind, and Consciousness

“The composer Stravinsky had written a new piece with a difficult violin passage. After it had been in rehearsal for several weeks, the solo violinist came to Stravinsky and said he was sorry, he had tried his best, the passage was too difficult, no violinist could play it. Stravinsky said, “I understand that. What I am after is the sound of someone trying to play it.” —Thomas Powers”
― Peter Ralston, The Book of Not Knowing: Exploring the True Nature of Self, Mind, and Consciousness

“and we can be the players only when we understand loneliness and go beyond it. … because beyond it lies the real treasure. —J. Krishnamurti”
― Peter Ralston, The Book of Not Knowing: Exploring the True Nature of Self, Mind, and Consciousness

“separating the truth from what’s believed. This action allows you to let go of your own knowledge and open up to freshly experience this moment without presumption.”
― Peter Ralston, The Book of Not Knowing: Exploring the True Nature of Self, Mind, and Consciousness