--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Master would insist that the final…" description: "\"The Master would insist that the final barrier to our attaining God was the word and concept God.\" — Anthony de Mello" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a8/anthony-de-mello-1331_barriers_the-master-would-insist-that-the-final-b_2674986.png" --- # The Master would insist that the final barrier to our… ![“The Master would insist that the final barrier to our attaining God was the word and concept God.” quote by Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a8/anthony-de-mello-1331_barriers_the-master-would-insist-that-the-final-b_2674986.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a8/anthony-de-mello-1331_barriers_the-master-would-insist-that-the-final-b_2674986.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a8/anthony-de-mello-1331_barriers_the-master-would-insist-that-the-final-b_2674986.png) > “The Master would insist that the final barrier to our attaining God was the word and concept God.” [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The ultimate obstacle to experiencing the divine is the mental construct of "God" itself. **In simple terms:** Ideas about God block direct experience. Key Takeaway Let go of labels to feel the divine. Themes spirituality language perception Mood contemplative inquisitive Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal meditation - interfaith dialogue - philosophical study Key Concepts theology conceptual barriers Questions to Reflect On - How does naming limit experience? - Can you sense the divine without concepts? A Different Perspective Even without the word, the sense of the sacred can persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attaining God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attaining-god-2534082/) [Barriers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barriers/) [Concept God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concept-god/) [Concepts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concepts/) [Final Barrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/final-barrier-2534084/) [Finals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finals/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-word/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Master Insist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/master-insist-2534083/) [Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters/) ## Related quotes > [“The path to attaining God is normality. There is liberation (moksha) through normality. 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No one needs to put chains on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/anytime-you-turn-on-your-own-concept-of-god-you-are-no-longer-a-free/) [John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/) > [“In order to find what the concept of God is pointing to, you must let go of your image of God and every concept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/in-order-to-find-what-the-concept-of-god-is-pointing-to-you-must-let/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [“Life is perfect when you understand the concept of God and that we are one part his perfectness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeypee-macale/life-is-perfect-when-you-understand-the-concept-of-god-and-that-we/) [Jeypee Macale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeypee-macale/) > [The concept of God can be very interfering for some and very opening for others. There are many people who say it's not God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-b-newberg/the-concept-of-god-can-be-very-interfering-for-some-and-very-opening/) [Andrew B. Newberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-b-newberg/) > [“The truth is, that the concept of God which I had always entertained, and which I had accused Christians of teaching to the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-truth-is-that-the-concept-of-god-which-i-had-always-entertained/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [...I might continue to believe that there is no god even if it were proved that there is. A religious friend of mine once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/i-might-continue-to-believe-that-there-is-no-god-even-if-it-were/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [Learning to be flexible in values takes a very long time...Of course I felt a little uncomfortable during questioning the concept of God, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/learning-to-be-flexible-in-values-takes-a-very-long-time-of-course-i/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [“There is only one giver and that is God. Even the laws of gravity justify this concept. Therefore, God always gives us without expecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/there-is-only-one-giver-and-that-is-god-even-the-laws-of-gravity/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) ## More by Anthony de Mello > [The poor think they will be happy when they become rich. The rich think they will be happy when they are rid of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-poor-think-they-will-be-happy-when-they-become-rich-the-rich/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [You only change what you understand. What you do not understand and are not aware of, you repress. You dont change. But when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/you-only-change-what-you-understand-what-you-do-not-understand-and/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [A zealous disciple expressed a desire to teach others the Truth and asked the Master what he thought about this. The Master said, "Wait."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/a-zealous-disciple-expressed-a-desire-to-teach-others-the-truth-and/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [As the Arabs say, "The nature of rain is the same, but it makes thorns grow in the marshes and flowers in the gardens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/as-the-arabs-say-the-nature-of-rain-is-the-same-but-it-makes-thorns/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Sinners often speak the truth. And saints have led people astray. Examine what is said, not the one who says it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/sinners-often-speak-the-truth-and-saints-have-led-people-astray/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Isn't there such a thing as social liberation?" "Of course there is," said the Master. "How would you describe it?" "Liberation from the need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/isn-t-there-such-a-thing-as-social-liberation-of-course-there-is-said/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [The important thing is not to know who "I" is or what "I" is. You'll never succeed. There are no words for it. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-important-thing-is-not-to-know-who-i-is-or-what-i-is-you-ll-never/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [And increasingly - you know this and so do I we're losing the youth everywhere. They hate us; they are not interested in having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/and-increasingly-you-know-this-and-so-do-i-we-re-losing-the-youth/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Spirituality practiced in the state of activity is incomparably superior to that practiced in a state of withdrawel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/spirituality-practiced-in-the-state-of-activity-is-incomparably/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [You know, all mystics - Catholic, Christian, non-Christian, no matter what their theology, no matter what their religion - are unanimous on one thing:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/you-know-all-mystics-catholic-christian-non-christian-no-matter-what/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [There were rules in the monastery, but the Master always warned against the tyranny of the law. 'Obedience keeps the rules,' he would say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/there-were-rules-in-the-monastery-but-the-master-always-warned/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [A disciple, in his reverence for the Master, looked upon him as God incarnate. "Tell me, O Master," he said, "why you have come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/a-disciple-in-his-reverence-for-the-master-looked-upon-him-as-god/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [“And how about you? Do you want to understand and play the game of life or fool around with miracles?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/and-how-about-you-do-you-want-to-understand-and-play-the-game-of-life/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [You don't have to add anything in order to be happy; you've got to drop something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/you-don-t-have-to-add-anything-in-order-to-be-happy-you-ve-got-to/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Rare indeed, is the relationship in which the other is not cultivated for what one can get for oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/rare-indeed-is-the-relationship-in-which-the-other-is-not-cultivated/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) [Explore all 253 Anthony de Mello quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) ## More Barriers quotes > [Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-aunt-and-uncle-will-be-proud-though-won-t-they-said-hermione-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The gear you can't afford is not the barrier keeping you from success. Gear has very little to do with photography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-jarvis/the-gear-you-can-t-afford-is-not-the-barrier-keeping-you-from-success/) [Chase Jarvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chase-jarvis/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) > [The "health, education, and welfare" section of government is another boondoggle. First we manufacture indigent and superfluous people by legal monopolies in land, money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurance-labadie/the-health-education-and-welfare-section-of-government-is-another/) [Laurance Labadie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurance-labadie/) > [Security is a component of everyday life that one spending time in Washington, D.C., gets accustomed to. Metal detectors, police vehicle barriers and heavily-armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-crapo/security-is-a-component-of-everyday-life-that-one-spending-time-in/) [Mike Crapo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-crapo/) > [The biggest obstacles to our progress exist within our own lives in the form of cowardice and the tendency to give up. Breaking through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/the-biggest-obstacles-to-our-progress-exist-within-our-own-lives-in/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [I feel that there are a few things in the world without cultural barriers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/i-feel-that-there-are-a-few-things-in-the-world-without-cultural/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [English literature is a glorious inheritance which is open to all - there are no barriers, no coupons, and no restrictions. In the English…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/english-literature-is-a-glorious-inheritance-which-is-open-to-all/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [I've cosponsored legislation to establish a lend-lease program to simplify bureaucratic barriers and allow a speedier transfer of U.S. military equipment to Ukraine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/i-ve-cosponsored-legislation-to-establish-a-lend-lease-program-to/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [Don't be afraid of what you want. This is your time. The barriers are down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/don-t-be-afraid-of-what-you-want-this-is-your-time-the-barriers-are/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [Fear is the single biggest barrier to creativity. Unless we're brave enough to risk looking foolish, we'll inevitably find ourselves sticking to the status…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-linkner/fear-is-the-single-biggest-barrier-to-creativity-unless-we-re-brave/) [Josh Linkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-linkner/) > [He looked at my lips. I suddenly found myself wanting to lick his. 'Yes,' he replied, his eyes going molten. My breath caught in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-macalister/he-looked-at-my-lips-i-suddenly-found-myself-wanting-to-lick-his-yes/) [Katie MacAlister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-macalister/) > [What do you have to surrender? A drop has to dissolve into the ocean to become the ocean. 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Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-w-johnson/) [Browse all 1,191 Barriers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barriers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Master would insist that the final barrier to our attaining God was the word and concept God.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anthony de Mello" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-master-would-insist-that-the-final-barrier-to-our-attaining-god/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Barriers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-master-would-insist-that-the-final-barrier-to-our-attaining-god/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a8/anthony-de-mello-1331_barriers_the-master-would-insist-that-the-final-b_2674986.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a8/anthony-de-mello-1331_barriers_the-master-would-insist-that-the-final-b_2674986.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a8/anthony-de-mello-1331_barriers_the-master-would-insist-that-the-final-b_2674986.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Master would insist that the final barrier to our attaining God was the word and concept God.” — Anthony de Mello", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anthony de Mello", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Master would insist that the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-master-would-insist-that-the-final-barrier-to-our-attaining-god/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-master-would-insist-that-the-final-barrier-to-our-attaining-god/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```