Ego Quote by Nisargadatta Maharaj
““Question: You seem to advise me to be self-centered to the point of egoism. Must I not yield even to my interest in other people? Maharaj: Your interest in others is egoistic, self-concerned, self- oriented. You are not interested in others as persons, but only as far as they enrich, or enoble your own image of yourself. And the ultimate in selfishness is to care only for the protection, preservation and multiplication of one's own body. By body I mean all that is related to your name and shape--- your family, tribe, country, race, etc. To be attached to one's name and shape is selfishness. A man who knows that he is neither body nor mind cannot be selfish, for he has nothing to be selfish for. Or, you may say, he is equally 'selfish' on behalf of everybody he meets; everybody's welfare is his own. The feeling 'I am the world, the world is myself' becomes quite natural; once it is es- tablished, there is just no way of being selfish. To be selfish means to covet, to acquire, accumulate on behalf of the part against the whole. I Am That Nisargadatta Maharaj””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Dialogue with disciple, 1970s
Advocates transcending personal ego by recognizing the self as part of the whole, dissolving selfishness.
In simple terms: True self sees beyond personal identity.
Key Takeaway
Identify with the universal self.
Themes
spirituality
ego
selflessness
Mood
reflective
contemplative
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- meditation
- service work community work
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
nondualism
self-identity
collective welfare
Questions to Reflect On
- How can one balance personal identity with universal compassion?
- What practices help dissolve ego?
A Different Perspective
The concept may conflict with social responsibilities toward others.
