Self is not liberated. It was never bound. What gets liberated are the demons as well as gods of your mind. Set them free. You are sick of playing with the game. Be willing to not play the game. This takes huge resolve.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of freeing oneself from mental constraints and embracing a deeper understanding of one's own mind.
Gangaji's quote highlights the idea that the true self is inherently free and unbound, while the challenges and conflicts we face come from our mental constructs. By releasing both the positive and negative aspects of our thoughts, we can transcend the 'game' of life that often traps us, revealing a deeper sense of freedom that requires significant inner strength and commitment to achieve.
In practice
This quote can inspire a workshop on personal development and mental freedom.
The most sublime truth of all has never been stated or written or sung. Not because it is far away and can not be reached, but because it is so intimately close, closer than anything that can be spoken. It is alive as the stillness in the core of your being, too close to be described, too close to be objectified, too close to be known in the usual way of knowledge. The truth of who you are is yours already. It is already present.
If you are willing to take an instant to withdraw attention from whatever your internal dialogue is, to withdraw energy from whatever the latest point of view about your suffering is, it is immediately obvious what is here: the fullness, the richness and the love of oneself as conscious life.
When you are willing to stop looking for something in thought, you find everything in silence.
Be still. it takes no effort to be still; it is utterly simple. When your mind is still, you have no name, you have no past, you have no relationships, you have no country, you have no spiritual attainment, you have no lack of spiritual attainment. There is just the presence of beingness with itself.
The ability to perceive or think differently is more important than the knowledge gained.
Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other, and scarce in that; for it is true we may give advice, but we cannot give conduct.
The more you know, the more unflinchingly you deny casual beliefs and Accepted Wisdom when it flies in the face of reality, the more carefully you observe the world and its people around you, the better chance you have of writing something meaningful and well-crafted.
Does it matter whether you hate yourself? At least love your eyes that can see, your mind that can hear the music, the thunder of the wings.
By criticizing, we do not make lasting changes and often incur resentment.
Just remember, kid, you can quicker get back a million dollars that was stole than a word that you gave away.
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