---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Egoism itself is non-religion (adharma)…"
description: "\"“Egoism itself is non-religion (adharma) and where there is no egoism that indeed is religion. Without the presence of a living Gnani, it is not possib..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/dada-bhagwan-31_buddhism_egoism-itself-is-non-religion-adharma-an_187907.jpg"
---

#  Egoism itself is non-religion (adharma) and where there is…

![“Egoism itself is non-religion (adharma) and where there is no egoism that indeed is religion. Without the presence of a living Gnani, it is not possible for egoism to decrease.” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/dada-bhagwan-31_buddhism_egoism-itself-is-non-religion-adharma-an_187907.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/dada-bhagwan-31_buddhism_egoism-itself-is-non-religion-adharma-an_187907.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/dada-bhagwan-31_buddhism_egoism-itself-is-non-religion-adharma-an_187907.jpg)

> ““Egoism itself is non-religion (adharma) and where there is no egoism that indeed is religion. Without the presence of a living Gnani, it is not possible for egoism to decrease.””

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Egoism is a non-religious stance; without egoism, a form of religion emerges, and egoism requires a living enlightened individual to diminish.

**In simple terms:** Egoism is non-religious; its decline needs an enlightened person.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate self-awareness to balance egoism.

Themes

philosophy spirituality ego religion self knowledge

Mood

reflective thoughtful inquisitive

Type

spiritual philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal development
- ethical decision making
- spiritual practice
- community leadership

Key Concepts

non-religion self-transcendence inner growth

Questions to Reflect On

- What role does self-knowledge play in reducing egoism?
- Can egoism coexist with spiritual practice?

A Different Perspective

Egoism may persist without conscious effort.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Egoism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egoism/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-quotes/)

## Related quotes

> [ “The worldly \[spiritual\] science is methodic (kramic) in nature; one progresses “step by step”; one has to ascent one step at a time. Whereas… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-worldly-spiritual-science-is-methodic-kramic-in-nature-one/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“If we break someone’s ego, then we can’t be happy. Egoism is his life!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-we-break-someone-s-ego-then-we-can-t-be-happy-egoism-is-his-life/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“There are two things in the world: feeding the ego or breaking it. Everyone’s ego is either being fed or being shattered in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/there-are-two-things-in-the-world-feeding-the-ego-or-breaking-it/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“What is the nature of egoism? It spends away everything in its power!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/what-is-the-nature-of-egoism-it-spends-away-everything-in-its-power/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“Wherever there is ego, meditation (dhyan) does not exist. The inherent nature of the ego is such that dhyan does not exist when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/wherever-there-is-ego-meditation-dhyan-does-not-exist-the-inherent/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“Understanding is the conduct. “I” tell you not to bring it into conduct. Nothing will be gained from teaching forced conduct. To put something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/understanding-is-the-conduct-i-tell-you-not-to-bring-it-into-conduct/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“Ego is considered one’s own wealth. Profit or loss of endless lifetimes comes into ego. Whatever is one’s ego, that is how his medium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/ego-is-considered-one-s-own-wealth-profit-or-loss-of-endless/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“A person is not a ‘doer’ in this world. When one believes that ‘I am the doer’ is when the ‘charging’ (of karma) occurs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/a-person-is-not-a-doer-in-this-world-when-one-believes-that-i-am-the/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“Egoism is alive because of buddhi (intellect). That is why ‘we’ tell you to become abuddha (free of intellect).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/egoism-is-alive-because-of-buddhi-intellect-that-is-why-we-tell-you/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“The Lord says, if you move away from your ego, if you maintain humility (utmost humbleness), then you and I are the same. Otherwise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-lord-says-if-you-move-away-from-your-ego-if-you-maintain-humility/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“The nature of pudgal (non-Self body complex, complex of intake and output) is to go down and the nature of the Self is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-nature-of-pudgal-non-self-body-complex-complex-of-intake-and/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“No one in this world is a ‘doer’. To say that ‘I am doing,’ is egoism. Illusion continues to prevail under the umbrella of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/no-one-in-this-world-is-a-doer-to-say-that-i-am-doing-is-egoism/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“The One who devours (completely destroys) our ego and makes us viraat (divine & huge) is called the viraat-svaroop (divine manifestation). Only before a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-one-who-devours-completely-destroys-our-ego-and-makes-us-viraat/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [ “There is no moksha \[ultimate liberation\] without complete dissolution of the ego. Place of Origin of the ego itself is karmic bondage. As long… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/there-is-no-moksha-ultimate-liberation-without-complete-dissolution/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“Ego does not experience happiness or misery. It does not enjoy sex either. It is just the egoism it does that, ‘I enjoyed sex!’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/ego-does-not-experience-happiness-or-misery-it-does-not-enjoy-sex/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

## More by Dada Bhagwan

> [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [ “The worldly \[spiritual\] science is methodic (kramic) in nature; one progresses “step by step”; one has to ascent one step at a time. Whereas… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-worldly-spiritual-science-is-methodic-kramic-in-nature-one/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-intoxication-of-the-ego-of-i-am/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [ “Through the grace of a thief, one can become a thief and through the grace of a Gnani \[the enlightened one\], one can become… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/through-the-grace-of-a-thief-one-can-become-a-thief-and-through-the/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“If one does not know how to read the account (karmic) book, then he will start to have doubts, and doubts lead to unhappiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-one-does-not-know-how-to-read-the-account-karmic-book-then-he-will/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [ “Skills (learning) or lack of skills is all egoistic knowledge (ego based knowledge). Ego-free Knowledge is called (true) Knowledge \[Gnan\].” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/skills-learning-or-lack-of-skills-is-all-egoistic-knowledge-ego-based/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“Continue with whatever it is that you have been doing, except for attachment-abhorrence. If ‘we’ stay in our state of Pure Soul, attachment-abhorrence will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/continue-with-whatever-it-is-that-you-have-been-doing-except-for/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“A variety of difficulties will come your way. But at the time of difficulty, you will be able to find a ready made medicine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/a-variety-of-difficulties-will-come-your-way-but-at-the-time-of/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“Suppose you want to go to Juhu (suburb in Mumbai) from here, and you come across two paths, which of the two paths is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/suppose-you-want-to-go-to-juhu-suburb-in-mumbai-from-here-and-you/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“The Soul (our true Self) has to be experienced, the Soul known through scriptures will not do. Work will not be completed through scriptural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-soul-our-true-self-has-to-be-experienced-the-soul-known-through/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“If God were the doer, when will there be an end?! (If) God is the creator and he made us, we become his toys,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-god-were-the-doer-when-will-there-be-an-end-if-god-is-the-creator/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“For those people whose association is harmful to the Self (kusangi), there is no better respectful fear (taap) than that of satsang (spiritual company).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/for-those-people-whose-association-is-harmful-to-the-self-kusangi/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“Forgiveness is not to be given by speaking. Forgiveness is natural and spontaneously there. Spontaneous forgiveness is a sign of having attained the Self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/forgiveness-is-not-to-be-given-by-speaking-forgiveness-is-natural-and/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [“Remaining absolutely non-acquisitive (aparigrahi) amidst all possessions is the ultimate ‘test examination’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/remaining-absolutely-non-acquisitive-aparigrahi-amidst-all/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

[Explore all 2,468 Dada Bhagwan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

## More Buddhism quotes

> [There are places that are very draining. There are places where there is another dimensional crossover but to a dimension that is not powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-places-that-are-very-draining-there-are-places-where-there/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Enlightenment is lightening up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/enlightenment-is-lightening-up/)

[Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/)

> [The very best players, when they are practicing, put everything they've got into it. But then they leave it for a while. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/the-very-best-players-when-they-are-practicing-put-everything-they-ve/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/)

[Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/)

> [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/)

[Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/)

> [My mom and my aunties are really devout Christians. My mom married a Muslim when I was 12, so I got teachings from both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tech-n9ne/my-mom-and-my-aunties-are-really-devout-christians-my-mom-married-a/)

[Tech N9ne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tech-n9ne/)

> [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [“The extraction of discrete parts of Chöd teachings from their broader philosophical contexts is symptomatic of how Chöd has been incorporated into and transmitted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sorensen/the-extraction-of-discrete-parts-of-ch-d-teachings-from-their-broader/)

[Michelle Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sorensen/)

> [Buddhism advises you not to implant feelings that you don’t really have or avoid feelings that you do have. If you are miserable you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/buddhism-advises-you-not-to-implant-feelings-that-you-don-t-really/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“That's all there is, enlightenment on the end of a cock. It doesn't get any more Zen than that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaden-wilkes/that-s-all-there-is-enlightenment-on-the-end-of-a-cock-it-doesn-t-get/)

[Jaden Wilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaden-wilkes/)

> [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/)

[Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/)

[Browse all 6,100 Buddhism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Egoism itself is non-religion (adharma) and where there is no egoism that indeed is religion. Without the presence of a living Gnani, it is not possible for egoism to decrease.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dada Bhagwan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/egoism-itself-is-non-religion-adharma-and-where-there-is-no-egoism/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Buddhism"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/egoism-itself-is-non-religion-adharma-and-where-there-is-no-egoism/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/dada-bhagwan-31_buddhism_egoism-itself-is-non-religion-adharma-an_187907.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/dada-bhagwan-31_buddhism_egoism-itself-is-non-religion-adharma-an_187907.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fee/dada-bhagwan-31_buddhism_egoism-itself-is-non-religion-adharma-an_187907.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Egoism itself is non-religion (adharma) and where there is no egoism that indeed is religion. Without the…” — Dada Bhagwan",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Dada Bhagwan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Egoism itself is non-religion (adharma) and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/egoism-itself-is-non-religion-adharma-and-where-there-is-no-egoism/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/egoism-itself-is-non-religion-adharma-and-where-there-is-no-egoism/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```