What Is Meant by ‘Not Knowing’

If consciousness, or ‘knowing’, is all there is, what is meant by ‘not knowing’?

Rupert says: ‘All knowledge and experience take place in subject-object relationship. But, when the subject tries to know itself, there’s a blind spot – there’s no objective experience there. And from the point of view of the finite mind, it conceptualises this – knowing’s experience of itself – as “nothing” or “not knowing”.

‘So, what is for knowing ‘knowing’ is for the finite mind ‘not knowing’. Not knowing is the highest truth for the mind. And that is why all the spiritual traditions, in one way or another, are a process of emptying the mind of its knowledge. The emptier the mind becomes, the more it moves towards not knowing, and the closer it becomes to pure knowing – or in religious language, God’s presence.’

*This video is from one of Rupert’s in-person retreats at Mandali, 7–14 September 2024. For more information on upcoming retreats (many of which can be attended online via livestream) go to:

Timestamps:

0:00 What Is Meant by ‘Not Knowing’?
1:43 The Mind’s Blind Spot
3:01 The Subject-Object Relationship
4:33 Not Knowing
5:47 Pure Knowing
7:11 Dying Before We Die

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RS24151f

[joseb]

Years listening to him about the same, over and over again, and every time is like a new loving melody. What a gift.

[jerrypritchett]

A couple of years ago, I realized I knew nothing at all. I only had speculations, thoughts, and beliefs. In 75 years of seeking the ultimate truths, I knew nothing.
I recognized that to "know" was to be that which is before the existence of mind, thought, matter, space, and time.
I felt tremendous relief and freedom when I realized that my search was over. I am now free to believe what I consider to be my best values and behaviors to live by.

[kimelzen]

Wonderful 🎉 and also wonderful to Be Here with all of you, listening to Rupert in real time. Aren’t we the luckiest humans on the planet to have been drawn here by Grace? ❤❤❤

[BabaDontKnow]

Explained once again in that beautiful Rupert way. Thank you. Blessings.

[pps]

Not knowing is the highest truth for mind. Beautiful!

[tmarkcommons]

When all that I owned was in my backpack, and I normally found myself sleeping in a new place, every night, I would sometimes awake and not know where I was. I learned to recognize this immediately and I loved playing the game of seeing for how long I could avoid remembering where I was. As soon as I remembered the earth, I would soon zero in on where. But, not knowing where, was very refreshing, for as long as it lasted.

[Flower-vw]

Mind-blowing, this really drives home the concept of subject/object. And the highest achievement of the mind, not knowing. And thank you Rupert for speaking of your previously racing mind, so encouraging to an overthinker with ADHD and CPTSD. When I began meditating daily consistently 2 years ago, my mind was bonkers all the time. It took about 6 months but my mind finally ran out of steam and quieted down. "Ego death", death of the separate self. I am facing other bigger challenges now in meditation. 😊❤❤

[Tasin]

I am absolutely in trust with not knowing because it is I am.

[lerieyell]

Yes, Rupert is an incredible gift to aid this journey ❤

[GodlySharing]

‘Not knowing’ is not ignorance… it is not a lack of intelligence or awareness. It is the dissolution of the mind’s relentless need to categorize, define, and grasp at reality. It is an openness… a surrender into the vast, unknowable presence that is always here. To not know is to be free of the illusion that we must always have answers, that we must always be in control.

The mind thrives on knowing. It builds identities, beliefs, and entire worlds out of its concepts. But what happens when we stop clinging to those ideas? What remains when we no longer hold onto the security of labels and conclusions? There is a space—a stillness—that is deeper than knowledge. It is not something to be acquired… it is simply noticed.

This ‘not knowing’ is not passive. It is the highest form of intelligence, because it is free. It does not rush to judge or grasp at explanations. It allows life to unfold without resistance. It is the wisdom of presence itself… the recognition that reality is not something to be figured out, but something to be directly experienced.

To embrace not knowing is to let go of the mind’s need for certainty. It is to rest in the simplicity of this moment, without needing to define it. This is where true clarity arises—not from mental conclusions, but from the silent space in which all thoughts come and go.

In this way, ‘not knowing’ is the doorway to peace. It is the end of struggle, the release of resistance. It is the ultimate surrender to the intelligence of existence itself… to the ever-present flow of God, where nothing is truly lost, and everything is already complete.

So rest in this not knowing. Let it be a softening… a return to the natural state of being. Here, in the space before thought, is where true knowing arises—not as information, but as pure awareness itself.

[TK-bfng]

For me not knowing is the transition from conceptual knowing to letting go but then the key was discovering the next stage, "the not knowing that knows" the awake wordless awareness that is the nature of mind that is none other than aliveness. From here I feel in joyful flow where I can move my hand or use thought as a tool .

[TimC-Cambridge]

Great teaching on deep acceptance, thanks!

[pilargarcia]

Me ha encantado!!! Muchísimas gracias!!!🙏🤍💛🧡❤️🩷💜💙🩵💚🤎🩶

[kimsinbilmek]

Agree. Felt that before then, filled my mind with garbage again aka knowledge. Coming back to myself again.

[carolsmith]

I would love to see a dialogue/ between Rupert and Byron Katie. Their work is so complimentary to one anothers and beautiful.

[spiritlightpajic]

👁️my I point that.. That Response Rupert IS far to Complex..🌅Thank You for sharing🪷

[firehorse]

beautiful little vid Rupert, must get to one of your events again sometime!

[bethhayes]

Mind is separate ego. Self is pure awareness. The mind cannot know what the Self is.

[jojolubjansky]

You need Rupert...Its better then somebody need you.... ❤

[zahraah]

Thank you i feel here somthing meaningful and value freedome, above the mind talking . Everything stops here