--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: According to my interpretation of…" description: "\"“According to my interpretation of Buddhism, our dissatisfaction with life derives from a repression even more immediate than death-terror: the suspici..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f94/david-r-loy-41129_buddhism_according-to-my-interpretation-of-buddhi_2693694.jpg" --- # According to my interpretation of Buddhism, our… ![“According to my interpretation of Buddhism, our dissatisfaction with life derives from a repression even more immediate than death-terror: the suspicion ‘ that “I” am not real. The sense-of-self is not self-existing but a mental construction which experiences its groundlessness as a lack. We have…” quote by David R. Loy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f94/david-r-loy-41129_buddhism_according-to-my-interpretation-of-buddhi_2693694.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f94/david-r-loy-41129_buddhism_according-to-my-interpretation-of-buddhi_2693694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f94/david-r-loy-41129_buddhism_according-to-my-interpretation-of-buddhi_2693694.jpg) > ““According to my interpretation of Buddhism, our dissatisfaction with life derives from a repression even more immediate than death-terror: the suspicion ‘ that “I” am not real. The sense-of-self is not self-existing but a mental construction which experiences its groundlessness as a lack. We have seen that this sense-of-lack is consistent with what psychotherapy has discovered about ontological guilt and basic anxiety. We cope with this lack by objectifying it in various ways and try to resolve it through projects which cannot succeed because they do not address the fundamental issue.”” [David R. Loy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-loy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Buddhist view: the self is a mental construct, leading to existential anxiety and attempts to fill the void with futile projects **In simple terms:** The self is an illusion causing deep insecurity and unfulfilling pursuits Key Takeaway Recognize self‑construction to reduce anxiety Themes existential psychology spirituality identity Mood introspective serene Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - Meditation - therapy - creative work - relationship building Key Concepts Nonduality ontological guilt mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How does seeing the self as a construct affect your life? - What practices help you confront existential lack? A Different Perspective Addressing the root of self‑illusion is difficult and may clash with cultural narratives ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [There's a constant anxiety that comes from having an innate sense of self, yet existing within a homogenised, aspirational culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/autre-ne-veut/there-s-a-constant-anxiety-that-comes-from-having-an-innate-sense-of/) [Autre Ne Veut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/autre-ne-veut/) > [“All of us react to our anxiety by “partializing” our world, by restricting our consciousness within narrow bounds, to areas that we can more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-r-loy/all-of-us-react-to-our-anxiety-by-partializing-our-world-by/) [David R. 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Loy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-loy/) [Explore all 10 David R. Loy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-loy/) ## More Buddhism quotes > [There are places that are very draining. There are places where there is another dimensional crossover but to a dimension that is not powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-places-that-are-very-draining-there-are-places-where-there/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Enlightenment is lightening up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/enlightenment-is-lightening-up/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [The very best players, when they are practicing, put everything they've got into it. But then they leave it for a while. 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