“The fundamental factor of self-deception is this constant desire to be something in this world and in the world hereafter.”

Be a light unto oneself,

Discipline does not mean suppression and control, nor is it adjustment to a pattern or ideology. It means a mind that sees ‘what is’ and learns from ‘what was’.

No book can teach you about yourself, no psychologist, none of the professors or philosophers. What they can teach you is what they think you are or what they think you should be.

All ideologies are idiotic, whether religious or political, for it is conceptual thinking, the conceptual word, which has so unfortunately divided man.

One is never afraid of the unknown; one is afraid of the known coming to an end.

To ask the ‘right’ question is far more important than to receive the answer. The solution of a problem lies in the understanding of the problem; the answer is not outside the problem, it is in the problem.

To meditate is to observe yourself, for you are totally responsible for your body, mind, thought.

Throughout life, from childhood, from school until we die, we are taught to compare ourselves with another; yet when I compare myself with another I am destroying myself.

What you believe you experience.

The moment I am aware that I am aware, I am not aware. Awareness means the observer is not.

From innumerable complexities we must grow to simplicity; we must become simple in our inward life and in our outward needs.

The more you know yourself, the more clarity there is. Self-knowledge has no end – you don’t come to an achievement, you don’t come to a conclusion. It is an endless river.

Change in society is of secondary importance; that will come about naturally, inevitably, when you as a human being bring about the change in yourself.

Enlightenment is an accident, but some activities make you accident-prone.

The constant assertion of belief is an indication of fear.

Merely to stuff the child with a lot of information, making him pass examinations, is the most unintelligent form of education.

Since then [1958 Coup in Iraq], reality started to take another form in my mind. Hence, I was aware of deception of our senses.

Love is a deception and a trap.

Holding on to anger as a personal possession will cause suffering. If anger really belonged to us, it would have to obey us. If it doesn’t obey us, that means it’s only a deception.

Don’t fall for it. Whenever the mind is happy or sad, don’t fall for it. Its all a deception.

People’s feelings are easily swayed. The things reflected in people’s eyes are full of deception. Nothing is as it appears.

Ruled by the prince of darkness and the master of deception who wears many disguises and has many aliases.

The Mafia and crime bosses of this world are amateurs compared to this syndicate.

Mundus vult decipi’—the world wants to be deceived.