Disciple: Master, why are we suffering so much? Why do we cause pain to ourselves and to each other?
Master: Suffering arises because we do not see reality as it truly is. Instead, we perceive the world through the filters of our belief systems and prejudices. We don’t believe what we see; we see what we believe.
Disciple: How do our belief systems distort reality?
Master: Imagine wearing glasses with lenses painted in bright colors. These glasses represent your belief system. If the lenses are red, you see the entire world as red, even if it isn’t. These belief systems limit your perception, making you rigid and closing the door to playful, free thinking.
Disciple: What happens if we hold on to these belief systems?
Master: Life becomes a drama of separation. You love those who are like-minded and fear or reject those who are different. The world becomes a battlefield of 7 billion isolated selves, each caught in conflict, struggle, and suffering.
Disciple: How can we escape this vicious cycle?
Master: The key is awareness. When you realize that you are not your thoughts but the observer of them, you begin to see reality beyond your belief systems. You discover that you are not the feeler, but the knower of feelings. You are not the thinker, but the witness of thoughts.
Disciple: What happens when I become the observer?
Master: You become free. You are no longer trapped by your thoughts and emotions. You can fully experience your emotions—be it pain or joy—without becoming enslaved by them. Through awareness, suffering is transformed into wisdom.
Disciple: Does this mean suffering never completely disappears?
Master: The sensation of suffering may arise, but it no longer binds you. It becomes like a passing cloud in the sky—appearing and then vanishing. The difference is that you no longer identify with it. You are conscious, and this awareness allows you to immerse yourself in the magic of life, embracing its beauty with presence.
Disciple: Thank you, Master. I will practice observing my sufferings instead of being consumed by them.
Master: That is the right path, my disciple. Remember: the observer never suffers. Your awareness is the key to transcend suffering and experience the miracle of life.
Excerpt from the book "The Wisdom of Consciousness" by Ervin K. Kery