This chapter opens with a piercing question: "How much effort have you truly devoted to the self that has suffered?" The author challenges the reader to consider whether their lifelong efforts and energy have, in fact, been spent serving a false self—a self built upon societal norms, external validations, and surface-level achievements.
Many might respond with defensiveness or confusion, not even recognizing what is meant by the "false self." Some may say that without money, health, or mental stability, life cannot be lived meaningfully. Others might insist on living as they please, believing in their own definitions of right and wrong. The author acknowledges that these perspectives are common and even understandable, but emphasizes the real issue: most people remain unaware of the internal suffering they carry.
The author reflects on their own life, where a persistent inner desire to live in a way that felt authentic—to live a life they could truly accept—was always present, even before encountering spiritual learning. This desire, they now understand, stemmed from a deeper yearning for truth, not ego. That longing led them to the process of "Turning Consciousness," a shift from superficial existence to a sincere inner journey.
While living a seemingly ordinary life, the author always sensed that conventional ideas of happiness were incomplete. There was a constant feeling that something was missing—something that social norms or family dynamics could not fulfill. Over time, they began to understand that human connection, though essential in practice, could not substitute for the profound realization that "each person is ultimately alone"—and that this aloneness, when truly grasped, is not lonely, but joyful.
The author came to see that their strongest desire was to explore the world of the true self—a pursuit that would bring lasting fulfillment and resolve the sense of lack. Through dedicated learning and reflection, this desire has surfaced fully and become a tangible inner guide. Now, in this present moment, even their physical self has begun to feel the reality of this truth.
They affirm with confidence: "There is nothing I seek in the world of form." This conviction is not an escape, but a culmination of years of seeking, suffering, and rediscovery. The only life worth living, they declare, is one where the energy once wasted on illusions is redirected toward aligning with the real self—a journey of profound meaning and joy.
この章では、「苦しんできた自分のために、どれだけ力を尽くしてきたか」という問いが投げかけられます。しかし多くの人は、実際には"偽物の自分"のために労力を注ぎ、本当の自分とは向き合わないまま生きてきたのではないかと著者は指摘します。世間の常識や外的条件に囚われ、「自分の人生を納得して生きたい」という思いさえも、土台が変わらなければエゴの範疇に過ぎないと語ります。
しかし著者は、その思いが学びの中で純化され、「意識の転回」を通じて真の自分への探求心へと昇華されたと感じています。世間の幸せには限界があり、心からの納得が得られないままでは、苦しみが尽きることはない。人は本質的に「ひとり」であり、そのひとりの意味を知ることで孤独とは異なる深い喜びを知るようになります。
最終的に著者は、「形ある世界に自分の求めているものはない」という思いが確立され、本当の自分とともに生きることこそが、力を尽くすに値する人生だと確信しています。