The Observer Does Not Need to See Themselves

The true meaning of ‘Madhyamaka(중관, 中觀)’ philosophy: The knowledge of ‘I’ and the knowledge of ‘pen, cup, desk’ are the same.

The knowledge of ‘I’ and the knowledge of ‘pen, cup, desk’ are the same.

There is a saying, “The observer sees everything, but the observer cannot see themselves.”

It’s a very powerful and useful statement.

If we rephrase it slightly, it can be expressed as follows:

“The observer can see everything, but the observer does not need to see themselves.”

Why is that? Because they are the observer themselves.

It’s not that they can’t see; it’s that they don’t need to see.

Both expressions are potent enough to spark enlightenment when properly understood.

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The essence of the ‘observer’ riddle is not to view, consider, or believe yourself as the ‘observer.’ (Even if you say, “I am the observer,” it is just another illusion of self.)

The essence of the ‘observer’ riddle is to realize that whatever ‘I’ you consider yourself to be is not truly you.