Matthew McConaughey and Sadhguru Talk about a Greatly Underestimated Possibility

Because once you have come with human intelligence, if you do not immediately get engrossed with petty things around you, it is natural for every human being to think, “What is all this about? Where did I come from? Where will I go? What is the process of this life? What is the meaning of this? What is the purpose of my existence here? Is my existence just a blip; do I just come and vanish, or is there something else to it?”

These are questions that no human being can avoid, unless someone works on you from a very young age and tells you, “You are this; you are that. You are going to heaven or hell.” And these questions are good; this confusion is good. People do not understand the significance of “I do not know.” It is the most significant thing in your life. Because the moment you see “I do not know,” the longing, wanting, or seeking to know is a natural consequence. Once there is a strong seeking, knowing is not far away.

For anything that you wish to know about life, you do not have to search through a microscope or a telescope, because you are life. You may have an identity in the world, but essentially, you are life, and this is the only life you can experience. Right now, I only experience all these beautiful trees the way they happen within me, the way they reflect in the firmament of my mind. There is no way I can experience these trees out there.

That is true for everything. All experience – pain and pleasure, joy and misery, agony and ecstasy can only happen within you. If you realize “I do not know” and then start looking, naturally you will understand this. Then, finding the nature of your existence and becoming the master of your destiny are natural consequences. The problem is we kill “I do not know” with belief systems, ideas, philosophies, and ideologies.

I think that’s what you did in the desert. I don’t know which desert you went to.

Matthew McConaughey: I went to Sahara and then West Texas.

Sadhguru: In a desert, you are alone, and as you said, initially you were confused and struggling, but then as you pay attention… Because when you have nothing else to pay attention to, you naturally pay attention to how you walk, every muscle in your body, the breath, the heartbeat, everything. Then you will start noticing that what you call “me” is an entire universe. The only universe and the only world that you have ever experienced is what has happened within you. Once you realize this, then you fix the world within you the way you want it. In the outside world, we do our best.

Matthew McConaughey: Voilà, voilà! Do you think that most of the time, the reason that we don’t seek this or give credit to the “I don’t know”...

Sadhguru: “I don't know” is looked down upon, mostly.

Matthew McConaughey: “I don’t know” is like a blind spot. Or is it like, “Whoa, I don’t know!”

Sadhguru: Let me clear this – “I know” is a blind spot. Let us say you are driving, a truck is coming behind you, and you see it in the mirror. Do you see what is behind the truck? You know there is a truck coming, but that becomes a blind spot, as it blocks everything else.

You think “I know,” and that is a blot in your brain. It does not allow you to see anything else. “I do not know” is not about things around you. You and I are sitting here talking long-distance, on a round planet, the damn thing is spinning all the time, and also hurtling through space at tremendous speed. No one knows where this cosmos begins and where it ends.

In the middle of nowhere, a tiny little mechanism called solar system; in that, a super tiny place called Planet Earth; in that, Texas is a super micro speck; in that, Austin City is a super super micro speck; in that, Austin City is a super super micro speck, in that, you are a big man – this is the problem. Because the moment you think “I know,” you become big in your perception. Once you become big in your perception, inevitably, you will make a fool of yourself. Whether you realize it in this life or not, someone who has eyes to see will see that this is a bloody fool.

Matthew McConaughey: Yes, love it. “I know” is a blind spot. But the world tells us the opposite, that “No, you know.” The self-assurance, the confidence – even if it’s a false confidence – we reward that in the mortal life with money, jobs, blue ribbons, and gold medals. But I really like your point. Is it an act of courage to lean in to the “I don’t know,” to seek what you don’t know?

Sadhguru: Yes. See, right now, I know you are Matthew. I wouldn’t dare try the second name...

Matthew McConaughey: McConaughey.

Sadhguru: McConaughey.

Matthew McConaughey: Rhymes with “What would Madonna say.” [Both laugh]

Sadhguru: I know you’re Matthew McConaughey, but do I really know you? I don’t. When I see a person, I may know many things that I need to know to interact with them. But do you know some life absolutely? You do not. So, “I do not know” does not mean you are ignorant. I do not know simply means that “maybe right now I’m seeing the surface; I’m always willing to look deeper and deeper.” But the moment I say, “Oh, I know what Matthew is,” he’s a file in my mind; it’s finished.