Psychology Quote by Karl Brunnholzl
““You might wonder, "Why is the ultimate not the sphere of cognition?" Because it is asserted that cognition, or consciousness, is the very seeming and it is impossible for the seeming to take the ultimate as its object.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Philosophy of Mind, 2015
The quote argues that consciousness cannot grasp an ultimate reality because it is itself a phenomenon, not a neutral observer.
In simple terms: Consciousness cannot directly know the ultimate truth.
Key Takeaway
Recognize limits of perception.
Themes
philosophy
epistemology
consciousness
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
theoretical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic discourse
- spiritual practice
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
subject‑object dualism
phenomenology
metaphysics
Questions to Reflect On
- Can we ever know anything beyond our own experience?
- How does this view affect our search for meaning?
A Different Perspective
The claim assumes a strict separation between mind and reality, which some traditions dispute.
![“Hence, [emptiness] is also not an object of [something like the] cognition of Buddhas, because they do not have [such a thing as] cognition.” quote by Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c69/karl-brunnholzl-4600_psychology_hence-emptiness-is-also-not-an-object-of_55069.jpg)
![“Here, master Bhavya states [this as] the main argument, and then he formulates four autonomous reasons as the means to prove the subject property. The venerable and fearless Candrakirti presents this by labeling the mere refutation of arising from the four extremes a "position." He teaches the…” quote by Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cb7/karl-brunnholzl-4600_logic_here-master-bhavya-states-this-as-the-ma_140001.jpg)
![“Therefore, everything is the illusory magical display of one's own mind. It is appearing yet delusive, and delusive while appearing. Thus, all of it is contained in the body, and the [body] is again contained in the mind. As for the mind, it has no color and no shape. It is natural luminosity that…” quote by Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8f8/karl-brunnholzl-4600_psychology_therefore-everything-is-the-illusory-mag_189022.jpg)
![“Not only can nobody deny the appearance of mere consciousness whose nature is other-dependent and not affected by the flaw of conceptions of a body with form and so on, but those who make any such [denial] only invalidate themselves by perception and such.” quote by Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/52d/karl-brunnholzl-4600_nature_not-only-can-nobody-deny-the-appearance_199293.jpg)
