“O My servant! Free thyself from the fetters of this world and loose thy soul from the prison of self. Seize thy chance, for it will come to thee no more!”
This is but one of many thought-provoking passages gleaned from “Counsels of Perfection,” a priceless guide to mature living. “For if one is imbued with all good qualities, but be selfish, all the others will fade or pass away.” But the human ego is so subtle that often we do not recognize that certain acts are expressions of self-love. Some of the innumerable attitudes through which egotism is freely expressed include…
“I must be first!” Our competitive culture makes it extremely difficult for a person to free oneself from this inclination. “I may not be the wealthiest or most powerful person in town but I at least have a larger income than my next-door neighbor;–making me first, at least in my own neighborhood!” Likewise, a student who is not the best reader in class may win a “first” by becoming the most troublesome, etc. Such strivings to be first tend to produce separateness rather than unity, fellowship and respect. A far better example would be set by those who help others to recognize truths without esteeming themselves to be in the least superior or possessing greater endowments. Envy, jealousy and covetousness may be thought of as by-products of the desire to be first but of the three, the influence of envy may be the worst–by causing unfriendly behaviour.
Other provocative, detrimental attitudes include: “What will others think or say; I must get my way,” and especially engaging in backbiting–defined by Webster as: “speaking evil of the absent.”
Considering the seriousness of the latter, one must ask: “Do I listen to backbiting–and by so doing encourage this characteristic in others? Do I talk too much, depriving others of the opportunity to express their knowledge and ideas, as good conversation requires an exchange of experiences and ideas. Do I talk too little, depriving others of my ideas, experience and knowledge? Am I afraid of making a mistake–as everyone ultimately does at some point? Do I speak too loud, as one in a public place making it difficult for others nearby to carry on a conversation; or so softly that others have to strain to hear what’s being said?
Am I argumentative and quarrelsome when presenting my ideas or do I use sarcasm, hurting the feelings of others with my cutting remarks? Of all the verbal techniques for dominating people, sarcasm is probably the most cruel, setting a fire that “devoureth both heart and soul”– often just to get a momentary laugh?
Other controlling tactics include: Do I sulk, whine, complain and give too much expression to my feelings–of discouragement, depression or sadness–thus darkening the lives of others–often to the point that it sometimes becomes comical? Do I show contempt for the feelings, ideas and actions of others?
It is apparently high time we stop and honestly identify purpose–the underlying determining factor in avoiding or becoming trapped in “The Prison of self!”