“Even if one is the most sinful of all sinners, one shall yet cross over the ocean of sin by the raft of self-knowledge alone. As the blazing fire reduces wood to ashes, similarly the fire of self-knowledge reduces all bonds of karma to ashes...” —Krishna, Bhagavad-gita 4:36-37
This book begins by asking the questions, “Who are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going? What are we living for? Why are we living?” The answers to these questions can be discovered if one knows where and how to look.
No matter who we are, we feel fulfillment, happiness, and purpose inside of ourselves. These qualities are not felt outside of ourselves, and cannot be found in external things or circumstances. Similarly, knowledge of ourselves and our purpose cannot be found in external things, but are found inside. By knowing what is in our hearts and minds, by seeing what we usually ignore, we learn not only what we are capable of, but also what prevents us from developing our full potential. That knowledge shows us the way to genuine change.
“All things, all circumstances that occur outside ourselves on the stage of this world, are exclusively the reflection of what we carry within. With good reason then, we can solemnly declare that the ‘exterior is the reflection of the interior.’ When someone changes internally—and if that change is radical—then circumstances, life, and the external also change.” —Samael Aun Weor