--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Further Whoever was responsible for the…" description: "\"“Further Whoever was responsible for the idea of dividing self into lower and higher parts committed a serious crime against humanity. This division ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f0/jed-mckenna-15841_faith_further-whoever-was-responsible-for-the_833993.jpg" --- # Further Whoever was responsible for the idea of dividing… ![“Further Whoever was responsible for the idea of dividing self into lower and higher parts committed a serious crime against humanity. This division has given rise to the notion that the lower (ego and immature) self must be overcome while the higher (unitive and whole) self must be sought as the…” quote by Jed McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f0/jed-mckenna-15841_faith_further-whoever-was-responsible-for-the_833993.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f0/jed-mckenna-15841_faith_further-whoever-was-responsible-for-the_833993.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f0/jed-mckenna-15841_faith_further-whoever-was-responsible-for-the_833993.jpg) > ““Further   Whoever was responsible for the idea of dividing self into lower and higher parts committed a serious crime against humanity. This division has given rise to the notion that the lower (ego and immature) self must be overcome while the higher (unitive and whole) self must be sought as the goal of human realization. Out of ignorance, I too clung to this notion because I believed it was this higher self that would be united with God for all eternity. It took a long time before my experiences led me to doubt this conviction and, at the same time, let in the possibility that this was not the whole truth and that there was still further to go.   Bernadette Roberts”” [Jed McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mckenna/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dividing the self into lower and higher parts creates a false moral hierarchy that limits true spiritual growth. **In simple terms:** Seeing self as split into good and bad hinders wholeness. Key Takeaway Embrace integration, not opposition. Themes spirituality self‑knowledge duality Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal meditation - therapy - spiritual retreats - philosophical study Key Concepts psychology non‑dualism ego higher self Questions to Reflect On - How does labeling parts of self as “lower” affect behavior? - Can wholeness be pursued without a hierarchical view? A Different Perspective The concept may oversimplify complex human psychology. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Higher self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher-self/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) ## Related quotes > [Say - i am the Atman in which my lower ego has become merged for ever. 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If you are exact today, closely united to God, and a consolation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/you-know-that-you-yourself-are-not-always-in-the-same-state-if-you/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [In cold and heat, in rain and wind, the soul united to God says, "I want it to be warm, to be cold, windy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-liguori/in-cold-and-heat-in-rain-and-wind-the-soul-united-to-god-says-i-want/) [Alphonsus Liguori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonsus-liguori/) > [Our soul is not united to our body in the ordinary sense of these terms. It is immediately and directly united to God alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-malebranche/our-soul-is-not-united-to-our-body-in-the-ordinary-sense-of-these/) [Nicolas Malebranche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-malebranche/) > [“This is our salvation: to be indwelt by God within us (the Spirit), united to God before us (the Son), and embraced within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ryan-butler/this-is-our-salvation-to-be-indwelt-by-god-within-us-the-spirit/) [Joshua Ryan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ryan-butler/) > [All creatures are united to God alone in an immediate union. They depend essentially and directly upon Him. 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They have exercised saving faith in Jesus (John 3:15–18; Acts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-macarthur-jr/christians-are-those-who-are-united-to-god-through-jesus-christ-2/) [John F. MacArthur Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-macarthur-jr/) > [Until I am essentially united with God, I can never have full rest or real happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-of-norwich/until-i-am-essentially-united-with-god-i-can-never-have-full-rest-or/) [Julian of Norwich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-of-norwich/) > [“When the church, the pulpit, and the pew get united, and God’s people are all of one mind, Christianity is like a red-hot ball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/when-the-church-the-pulpit-and-the-pew-get-united-and-god-s-people/) [Dwight L. 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God prefers the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/god-would-prefer-us-all-to-be-united-than-divided-the-devil-would/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) ## More by Jed McKenna > [“The American dream of freedom and abundance is just a child’s rendering of true freedom and abundance, and serves only to convince people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mckenna/the-american-dream-of-freedom-and-abundance-is-just-a-child-s/) [Jed McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mckenna/) > [“I don’t see it as my role to save or rescue anybody any more than regular people feel the need to rescue each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mckenna/i-don-t-see-it-as-my-role-to-save-or-rescue-anybody-any-more-than/) [Jed McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mckenna/) > [“Before enlightenment I believed my ego was me, then enlightenment comes along and no more ego, only the underlying reality. 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Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mckenna/your-natural-state-has-no-relationship-whatsoever-with-the-religious/) [Jed McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mckenna/) [Explore all 41 Jed McKenna quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mckenna/) ## More Faith quotes > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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