--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing perceivable is real.Your…" description: "\"Nothing perceivable is real.Your attachment is your bondage. You cannot control the future.There is no such thing as free will. Will is bondage.You ide..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8a/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj-953_attachment_nothing-perceivable-is-real-your-attachm_1292460.png" --- # Nothing perceivable is real.Your attachment is your… ![“Nothing perceivable is real.Your attachment is your bondage. You cannot control the future.There is no such thing as free will. Will is bondage.You identify yourself with your desires and become their slave.” quote by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8a/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj-953_attachment_nothing-perceivable-is-real-your-attachm_1292460.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8a/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj-953_attachment_nothing-perceivable-is-real-your-attachm_1292460.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8a/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj-953_attachment_nothing-perceivable-is-real-your-attachm_1292460.png) > “Nothing perceivable is real.Your attachment is your bondage. You cannot control the future.There is no such thing as free will. Will is bondage.You identify yourself with your desires and become their slave.” [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote asserts that all perceived reality is illusion, attachment creates bondage, and free will is an illusion, leading to identification with desires as slavery. **In simple terms:** Perception is illusion; attachment binds; free will is false. Key Takeaway Recognize and release attachments. Themes illusion attachment free will desire slavery Mood contemplative serene inquisitive Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - meditation - self‑inquiry - psychotherapy - mindfulness Key Concepts philosophy spirituality determinism Questions to Reflect On - How do you distinguish illusion from reality? - What does freedom mean without free will? A Different Perspective The claim may overlook practical agency and responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attachment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attachment/) [Bondage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bondage/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Free will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-will/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) ## Related quotes > [Just seeing the fact that this is an attachment, that attachment is a bondage - a beautiful word for bondage - that attachment is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/just-seeing-the-fact-that-this-is-an-attachment-that-attachment-is-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“There can be no real attachment to the given creation, no genuine responsibility in the world, unless we recognize the breach which already separates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-can-be-no-real-attachment-to-the-given-creation-no-genuine/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [The world which we perceive is a tiny fraction of the world which we can perceive, which is a tiny fraction of the perceivable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/the-world-which-we-perceive-is-a-tiny-fraction-of-the-world-which-we/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [“How we hate to admit that we would like nothing better than to be the slave! Slave and master at the same time! For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/how-we-hate-to-admit-that-we-would-like-nothing-better-than-to-be-the/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [“I was hypnotized and I made a wish to be the slave of Satan. My desire was so strong that I could get easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himmilicious/i-was-hypnotized-and-i-made-a-wish-to-be-the-slave-of-satan-my-desire/) Himmilicious > [Don't rely on your mind for liberation. It is the mind that brought you into bondage. Go beyond it altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/don-t-rely-on-your-mind-for-liberation-it-is-the-mind-that-brought/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Do not try to know the truth, for knowledge by the mind is not true knowledge. But you can know what is not true-which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/do-not-try-to-know-the-truth-for-knowledge-by-the-mind-is-not-true/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [“This is a disturbing fetish, Vin," he says, coming up for air. 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These faculties are obstructed for its exhibition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virchand-gandhi/according-to-jains-the-soul-in-pure-form-has-infiniteness-in-terms-of/) [Virchand Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virchand-gandhi/) > [If we do not abide in prayer, we will abide in temptation. Let this be one aspect of our daily intercession: "God, preserve my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/if-we-do-not-abide-in-prayer-we-will-abide-in-temptation-let-this-be/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [Too long have the workers of the world waited for some Moses to lead them out of bondage. I would not lead you out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/too-long-have-the-workers-of-the-world-waited-for-some-moses-to-lead/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [The awakening of the soul to its bondage and its effort to stand up and assert itself - this is called life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-awakening-of-the-soul-to-its-bondage-and-its-effort-to-stand-up/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Just a decade after 'Living in Bondage,' Nollywood films, made in some 300 languages, were being watched in both urban and rural areas, distributed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-flock/just-a-decade-after-living-in-bondage-nollywood-films-made-in-some/) [Elizabeth Flock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-flock/) ## More by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj > [Forgetting your Self is the greatest injury; all the calamities flow from it. Take care of the most important, the lesser will take care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/forgetting-your-self-is-the-greatest-injury-all-the-calamities-flow/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [There is nothing to do, just be. Do nothing. Be. No climbing mountains and sitting in caves. I do not even say "be yourself"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/there-is-nothing-to-do-just-be-do-nothing-be-no-climbing-mountains/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Let the dream unroll itself to its very end. You cannot help it. But you can look at the dream as a dream, refuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/let-the-dream-unroll-itself-to-its-very-end-you-cannot-help-it-but/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [As long as the mind is there, your body and your world are there. 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Stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/to-go-beyond-the-mind-you-must-be-silent-and-quiet-peace-and-silence/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Absolute perfection is here and now, not in some future, near or far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/absolute-perfection-is-here-and-now-not-in-some-future-near-or-far/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Having never left the house you are looking for the way home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/having-never-left-the-house-you-are-looking-for-the-way-home/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Once you understand that the false needs time and what needs time is false, you are nearer the Reality, which is timeless, ever in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/once-you-understand-that-the-false-needs-time-and-what-needs-time-is/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [The universe is but a partial manifestation of your limitless capacity to become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/the-universe-is-but-a-partial-manifestation-of-your-limitless/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [In reality, time and space exist in you. You do not exist in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/in-reality-time-and-space-exist-in-you-you-do-not-exist-in-them/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Whatever happens, happens to you by you, through you; you are the creator, enjoyer and destroyer of all you perceive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/whatever-happens-happens-to-you-by-you-through-you-you-are-the/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Life is love and love is life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/life-is-love-and-love-is-life/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [The real does not die, the unreal never lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/the-real-does-not-die-the-unreal-never-lived/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) [Explore all 321 Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) ## More Attachment quotes > [Some persons are so inclined to mortify themselves that at every opportunity they have, they do so. What a beautiful practice this is, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-rodriguez/some-persons-are-so-inclined-to-mortify-themselves-that-at-every/) Alphonsus Rodriguez > [She might be without country, without nation, but inside her there was still a being that could exist and be free, that could simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-maas/she-might-be-without-country-without-nation-but-inside-her-there-was/) [Sharon Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-maas/) > [When attachment Dies… Formalities are Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hemant-vaswani/when-attachment-dies-formalities-are-born/) [Hemant Vaswani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hemant-vaswani/) > [“Continue with whatever it is that you have been doing, except for attachment-abhorrence. If ‘we’ stay in our state of Pure Soul, attachment-abhorrence will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/continue-with-whatever-it-is-that-you-have-been-doing-except-for/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Love, like truth and beauty, is concrete. Love is not fundamentally a sweet feeling; not, at heart, a matter of sentiment, attachment, or being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-heyward/love-like-truth-and-beauty-is-concrete-love-is-not-fundamentally-a/) [Carter Heyward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-heyward/) > [The real goal of Zen is to find a way of life that's easy and undramatic. Strong attachments lead to upset and drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/the-real-goal-of-zen-is-to-find-a-way-of-life-that-s-easy-and/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [“The past is no good if you can't learn from it; therefore, no sense in dwelling on it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arians-karlovi-s/the-past-is-no-good-if-you-can-t-learn-from-it-therefore-no-sense-in/) Arians Karlovičs > [“Remaining absolutely non-acquisitive (aparigrahi) amidst all possessions is the ultimate ‘test examination’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/remaining-absolutely-non-acquisitive-aparigrahi-amidst-all/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/interwoven-as-is-the-love-of-liberty-with-every-ligament-of-your/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Money is not a problem, but unintelligent attachment to it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/money-is-not-a-problem-but-unintelligent-attachment-to-it-is/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [“You need to belong to yourself, and let others belong to themselves too. 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