The Observer and the Liberation of Power _ part 1

A path to Self-Discovery

Imagine for a moment a scene with three characters: one feels controlled, as if they have no power over their own actions; another seems to be the one exercising control, unable to let go of the dominance they believe they have; and a third desires desperately for things to be different.

This third character can want two things: to stop feeling controlled or to stop controlling.

However, this "wanting" is a trap. It's a paradox, because the desire itself reinforces the idea that power resides in one of the other two characters.

How can we liberate ourselves from this endless cycle?

To answer, we need to look beyond the surface and observe with attention: what role does the observer play in this scene?

The answer lies in a profound spiritual and philosophical principle: power resides in the observer. Not in the one being controlled nor in the one controlling.

The observer, by identifying these positions as separate from themselves, can see that both are reflections of their own mind. This understanding not only liberates the observer from appearances but also transforms their entire relationship with reality.

Here, we will explore this idea in an accessible way, using references and concepts that will help us deepen our ability to free ourselves from empowering perceptions.

The Trap of Desire and the Paradox of Power

The character who desires liberation—whether from feeling controlled or from the need to control—finds themselves in a paradox. They desire change, but this desire paradoxically reinforces the very dynamic they want to transcend. This happens because desiring to feel in control implies that the other person has power over them, while desiring to stop controlling implies that someone depends on their dominance.

This may seem counterintuitive at first, but it's a central idea in various spiritual and psychological philosophies. The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, in his work Beyond Good and Evil, warns us about oppressive dualities like these, which perpetuate a power struggle that only serves to reinforce the internal structure that sustains them.

How do we escape this cycle? By shifting attention from desire to the observer, to whoever creates the perception of these dynamics.

The observer is the key. In the words of the Indian sage Jiddu Krishnamurti: "The observer is the observed."  This means that there is no real separation between the conflicting parties and whoever perceives the conflict. The victim of control, the controller, and the desirer are not independent; they are polarized projections of the same consciousness.

This perspective completely changes the game: there's nothing to liberate outside of yourself because you already have the power to create (or stop creating) that reality.

The Power of the Observer: Creating Reality

The reality we perceive is filtered by our mind. This idea is not new; many thinkers, from Carl Jung to Eckhart Tolle, have explored how our perception of reality is deeply influenced by our internal projections. Jung called this "the shadow": those parts of ourselves that we don't recognize as our own and thus project onto others.

In this case, feeling controlled and needing to control are parts of our shadow that have taken shape in our perception. But when we understand that we are who observe, sustain, and project these dynamics, we acquire the power to dissolve them.

As the author and spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle explains in The Power of Now, simply observing our mind without identifying with it is enough to deactivate the suffering cycles we perpetuate.

What happens then? When the observer assumes their power, they stop identifying with the controller or the one being controlled. They accept that both parties are no more than polarized reflections of their own mind. This acceptance is what liberates, because it stops the desire to change what's "outside" and instead recognizes that everything is happening "inside".

From this perspective, the observer becomes the conscious creator of their reality.

Embracing One's Power: The Path to Liberation

Accepting that power resides in you, as observer and creator, can be a challenging but transformative process. It requires two things: radical acceptance and creative responsibility.

Acceptance means ceasing resistance to what is. This doesn't mean resigning oneself; it means recognizing what's happening without judgment. Such acceptance opens the necessary space for change.

On the other hand, creative responsibility involves recognizing that the way you perceive reality is under your control. This isn't about blaming yourself for what you've experienced, but rather empowering yourself to transform your perception.

As Rumi, the Sufi poet, said: "You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop." This simple truth reminds us that we have within us the power to change our experience of the world.

Conclusion: the freedom of the Observer

True freedom doesn't come from controlling the outside or escaping from being controlled. It comes from seeing that both—being controlled and controlling—are part of a game created by our mind. By realizing this, we can stop playing the game and start living from a position of real power: that of the conscious observer.

This understanding liberates us. It allows us to see that there's nothing to fear because there are no external forces controlling us. There's no conflict because there's no real separation. And there's nothing to desire because we are already complete.

The challenge now is to integrate this understanding into our daily lives. The next time you feel trapped in a control conflict, ask yourself: From what perspective am I observing this situation?

By doing so, you begin to reclaim your power as a conscious creator of your reality.

And in that simple practice, you find the key to true liberation.

This essay synthesizes ideas about power, control, and the role of the observer as the creator of their own reality, offering tools for deep introspection and practical understanding.