Famous Christians On The "Self"
The ‘self’ does not exist, even though we try, ever so hard, to convince ourselves [sic] that we actually are those ever waxing and waning ‘I’s’ and ‘me’s’ that parade before us as our consciousness from one moment to the next. Having said that, it is a paradox of immense proportions that, for something which has no independent reality of its own, the non-existent ‘self’ causes us so much damn trouble – because we let it.
I have quoted often these words of William Temple (pictured left), a former Archbishop of Canterbury:
‘For the trouble is that we are self-centred, and no effort of the self can remove the self from the centre of its own endeavour.’
The ego-self has to be thrown off-centre, and if we wish to be truly happy we must give up all things that stand in the way of our spiritual development – things like bad habits, obsessions, addictions … in fact, all forms of self-obsession or ‘mental furniture.’
In the words of Norman Vincent Peale, who for 32 years was the senior minister of Marble Collegiate Church in New York City, each of us must experience ‘a shift in emphasis from self to non-self.’ Each of us needs to find a ‘power-not-oneself,’ but we must be very careful in how we go about this, for as many so-called mystics have found out over the years, the denial of the self tends only to increase one’s obsession with oneself.
The answer is not to be found in trying to be ‘self-less.’ The key is ‘self-forgetfulness,’ which has this paradox: you can’t pursue it. Can you think of nothing at all? Only if you forget to think. Now there’s a thought!
I am reminded of something that the great Christian missionary E Stanley Jones (pictured right) wrote on the subject:
‘The only way to get rid of self-consciousness is through God-consciousness. We become so conscious of another Self within us that we lose sight of our own self.’
RELATED POSTS
Read more at Dr Ian Ellis-Jones … Mindfulness Training
Source:
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Please Help Support BeforeitsNews by trying our Natural Health Products below!
Order by Phone at 888-809-8385 or online at https://mitocopper.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomic.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomics.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Humic & Fulvic Trace Minerals Complex - Nature's most important supplement! Vivid Dreams again!
HNEX HydroNano EXtracellular Water - Improve immune system health and reduce inflammation.
Ultimate Clinical Potency Curcumin - Natural pain relief, reduce inflammation and so much more.
MitoCopper - Bioavailable Copper destroys pathogens and gives you more energy. (See Blood Video)
Oxy Powder - Natural Colon Cleanser! Cleans out toxic buildup with oxygen!
Nascent Iodine - Promotes detoxification, mental focus and thyroid health.
Smart Meter Cover - Reduces Smart Meter radiation by 96%! (See Video).
Great article thanks for posting!
Very nice! An effortless effort as it were. Couple that with compassionately exchanging yourself for the other selves around you and you arrive at One.
Well spoken Electrolux.
If only the ‘religious’ would concentrate on their own flaws instead of other peoples… sigh. When you get babtised/confirmed you should also have your forked tonges removed, because you turn into a bunch of self righteous dicatorial genacidal maniacs.