Theos-Talk Archives (May 2005 Message tt00397)

[ www.AnandGholap.net - Online Books on Theosophy ]
"The object of the whole previous evolution has been to produce the ego as a manifestation of the Monad. Then the ego in its turn evolves by putting itself down into a succession of personalities. Men who do not understand this look upon the personality as the self, and consequently live for it alone, and try to regulate their lives for what appears to be its temporary advantage. The man who understands realizes that the only important thing is the life of the ego, and that its progress is the object for which the temporary personality must be used. Therefore when he has to decide between two possible courses he thinks not, as the ordinary man might: “Which will bring the greater pleasure and profit to me as a personality?” but “Whichwill bring greater progress to me as an ego?” Experience soon teaches him that nothing can ever be really good for him, or for any one, which is not good for all, and so presently he learns to forget himself altogether, and to ask only what will be best for humanity as a whole.
271. Clearly then at this stage of evolution whatever tends to unity, whatever tends to spirituality, is in accord with the plan of the Deity for us, and is therefore right for us, while whatever tends to separateness or to materiality is certainly equally wrong for us. There are thoughts and emotions which tend to unity, such as love, sympathy, reverence, benevolence; (Page 110) there are others which tend to disunion, such as hatred, jealousy, envy, pride, cruelty, fear. Obviously the former group are for us the right, the latter groupare for us the wrong.

272. In all these thoughts and feelings which are clearly wrong, we recognize one dominant note, the thought of self; while in all those which are clearly right we recognize that the thought is turned toward others, and that the personal self is forgotten. Wherefore we see that selfishness is the one great wrong, andthat perfect unselfishness is the crown of all virtue. This gives us at once a rule of life. The man who wishes intelligently to co-operate with the Divine Will must lay aside all thought of the advantage or pleasure of the personal self, and must devote himself exclusively to carrying out that Will by working for the welfare and happiness of others."

Complete book can be read at

http://www.anandgholap.net/Textbook_Of_Theosophy-CWL.htm