--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The desire to transcend one's own ego…" description: "\"The desire to transcend one's own ego boundaries, to share completely, even for a moment, the consciousness of another person must be a universal longi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc5/andrew-weil-3294_activity_the-desire-to-transcend-one-s-own-ego-bo_2270470.png" --- # The desire to transcend one's own ego boundaries, to share… ![“The desire to transcend one's own ego boundaries, to share completely, even for a moment, the consciousness of another person must be a universal longing. It motivates many of our activities from taking drugs to making love, and lies behind the search for new ways of getting close to one another…” quote by Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc5/andrew-weil-3294_activity_the-desire-to-transcend-one-s-own-ego-bo_2270470.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc5/andrew-weil-3294_activity_the-desire-to-transcend-one-s-own-ego-bo_2270470.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc5/andrew-weil-3294_activity_the-desire-to-transcend-one-s-own-ego-bo_2270470.png) > “The desire to transcend one's own ego boundaries, to share completely, even for a moment, the consciousness of another person must be a universal longing. It motivates many of our activities from taking drugs to making love, and lies behind the search for new ways of getting close to one another that is so intense in our society today.” [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans seek to merge consciousness with others, driving intimacy, creativity, and even substance use. **In simple terms:** People crave shared consciousness. Key Takeaway Seek genuine connection. Themes identity connection transcendence Mood introspective curious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy - artistic collaboration - intimate relationships Key Concepts philosophy neuroscience Questions to Reflect On - What authentic ways can you share consciousness? - How to balance self and other? A Different Perspective Shared consciousness can be illusory or harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Boundaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boundaries/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desire Transcend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-transcend-5260322/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Ego Boundaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego-boundaries-4236919/) [Intense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intense/) [Longing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Making love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-love/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [New ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-ways/) [Nostalgia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nostalgia/) [Our society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-society/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Share](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/share/) [Society today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society-today/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Transcend Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transcend-ego-2286323/) [Universal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universal/) [Universal Longing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universal-longing-4014816/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [If we can transcend the ego, we will find that people are instinctively more attracted to us, even though we are no longer trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/if-we-can-transcend-the-ego-we-will-find-that-people-are/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [“It is lonely behind these boundaries. Some people-particularly those whom psychiatrists call schizoid-because of unpleasant, traumatizing experiences in childhood, perceive the world outside of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/it-is-lonely-behind-these-boundaries-some-people-particularly-those/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [“To develop strong ego boundaries, children need parents with strong boundaries. No shame-based parent has these. Toxic shame greatly damages our boundaries. Without strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/to-develop-strong-ego-boundaries-children-need-parents-with-strong/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“At moments when Herman fantasized about a new metaphysics, or even a new religion, he based everything on the attraction of the sexes. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/at-moments-when-herman-fantasized-about-a-new-metaphysics-or-even-a/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [“Haven't you noticed, too, on the part of nearly everyone you know, a growing rebellion against the present? And an increasing longing for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-finney/haven-t-you-noticed-too-on-the-part-of-nearly-everyone-you-know-a/) [Jack Finney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-finney/) > [I don't believe athletes should be role models. . . . We're a one-shot deal, one in a million, so we should be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/i-don-t-believe-athletes-should-be-role-models-we-re-a-one-shot-deal/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [“The problem of society today: An absolute lifestyle of entitlement. People gauge everything by "feeling", meaning whatever they feel like doing or whatever they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/the-problem-of-society-today-an-absolute-lifestyle-of-entitlement/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [- Hoes are getting wifed up. - Good girls are single. - The good die young. - & the ungrateful have everything. Society today -\_-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie/hoes-are-getting-wifed-up-good-girls-are-single-the-good-die-young/) [Archie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie/) > [What has changed in 40 years? It’s very simple: 40 years ago there was a market economy. Today there is a market society –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fripp/what-has-changed-in-40-years-it-s-very-simple-40-years-ago-there-was/) [Robert Fripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fripp/) > [“Is that a bad thing?” He angled his wineglass. “Every aspect of society today contrives to muddy our vision. To make us want things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jianne-carlo/is-that-a-bad-thing-he-angled-his-wineglass-every-aspect-of-society/) [Jianne Carlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jianne-carlo/) > [“We as the church do not want to lag behind society today, in terms of welcoming people of different cultures, races, and abilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-fenton-lee/we-as-the-church-do-not-want-to-lag-behind-society-today-in-terms-of/) [Amy Fenton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-fenton-lee/) > [We must get away from this limited \*I did this and I did that\* and the self-centeredness, that dominates our society Today. It must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/we-must-get-away-from-this-limited-i-did-this-and-i-did-that-and-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [We live in a very pluralistic society today. There are Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, atheists, Roman Catholics, Evangelical Christians, and Christians like me. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/we-live-in-a-very-pluralistic-society-today-there-are-buddhists/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [I don't look at our society today too much. My focus is still in the past, and part of the reason is because what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-wilson/i-don-t-look-at-our-society-today-too-much-my-focus-is-still-in-the/) [August Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-wilson/) > [The full implications of feminism will evolve over time, as we organize, experiment, think, analyze, and revise our ideas and strategies in light of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bunch/the-full-implications-of-feminism-will-evolve-over-time-as-we/) [Charlotte Bunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bunch/) ## More by Andrew Weil > [Low levels of vitamin D in the population as a whole suggest that most people need to take a vitamin D supplement. This may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/low-levels-of-vitamin-d-in-the-population-as-a-whole-suggest-that/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [While sleep is clearly vital to emotional well-being, what is it, exactly, about sleep that is so necessary? As it turns out, mood disorders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/while-sleep-is-clearly-vital-to-emotional-well-being-what-is-it/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [I believe that it may be normal, healthy, and even productive to experience mild to moderate depression from time to time as part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/i-believe-that-it-may-be-normal-healthy-and-even-productive-to/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [Insurance companies, whether private or government owned, must be compelled to pay for health-promoting measures. In turn, this will encourage physicians to offer such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/insurance-companies-whether-private-or-government-owned-must-be/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [Studies have shown that people who are physically active sleep better than those who are sedentary. The more energy you expend during the day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/studies-have-shown-that-people-who-are-physically-active-sleep-better/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [The most common objection that I hear to walking as exercise is that it's too easy, that only sweaty, strenuous activity offers real benefits.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/the-most-common-objection-that-i-hear-to-walking-as-exercise-is-that/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [In Europe, when tobacco was first introduced, it was immediately banned. In Turkey, if you got caught with tobacco, you had your nose slit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/in-europe-when-tobacco-was-first-introduced-it-was-immediately-banned/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [My personal opinion is that the neutral position on the mood spectrum—what I called emotional sea level—is not happiness but rather contentment and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/my-personal-opinion-is-that-the-neutral-position-on-the-mood-spectrum/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [Technology has a shadow side. It accounts for real progress in medicine, but has also hurt it in many ways, making it more impersonal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/technology-has-a-shadow-side-it-accounts-for-real-progress-in/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [The notion that a human being should be constantly happy is a uniquely modern, uniquely American, uniquely destructive idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/the-notion-that-a-human-being-should-be-constantly-happy-is-a/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [If I had to limit my advice on healthier living to just one tip, it would be simply to learn how to breathe correctly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/if-i-had-to-limit-my-advice-on-healthier-living-to-just-one-tip-it/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [The essence of health is inner balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/the-essence-of-health-is-inner-balance/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [Even low-calorie diets and vigorous exercise fail to work in the long term for at least some people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/even-low-calorie-diets-and-vigorous-exercise-fail-to-work-in-the-long/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [American businesses are struggling to pay outrageous, exploitive insurance bills for their employees, hampering our ability to compete globally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/american-businesses-are-struggling-to-pay-outrageous-exploitive/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [Routines may include taking a warm bath or a relaxing walk in the evening, or practicing meditation/relaxation exercises. Psychologically, the completion of such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/routines-may-include-taking-a-warm-bath-or-a-relaxing-walk-in-the/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) [Explore all 134 Andrew Weil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) [Gero Miesenbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gero-miesenbock/) > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The desire to transcend one's own ego boundaries, to share completely, even for a moment, the consciousness of another person must be a universal longing. 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