All happiness comes from awareness. The more we are conscious the deeper the joy. Acceptance of pain, non-resistance, courage and endurance - these open deep and perennial sources of real happiness, true bliss.
All you need is already within you, only you must approach your self with reverence and love. Self-condemnation and self-distrust are grievous errors. Your constant flight from pain and search for pleasure is a sign of love you bear for your self, all I plead with you is this: make love of your self perfect. Deny yourself nothing -- glue your self infinity and eternity and discover that you do not need them; you are beyond.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of self-love and inner awareness as the keys to realizing one's true potential.
Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj's quote suggests that everything one needs for fulfillment is already within, and it urges individuals to approach themselves with love and respect. It highlights that self-condemnation and distrust hinder personal growth, while the quest for pleasure often indicates a desire for deeper self-acceptance. By cultivating a profound love for oneself and embracing both infinity and eternity, a person can transcend limitations and understand their true essence beyond material needs.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech on self-improvement, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of self-love.
More from Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
All quotes →Even faith in God is only a stage on the way. Ultimately you abandon all, for you come to something so simple that there are no words to express it.
Forgetting your Self is the greatest injury; all the calamities flow from it. Take care of the most important, the lesser will take care of itself. You do not tidy up a dark room. You open the windows first. Letting in the light makes everything easy. So, let us wait with improving others until we see ourselves as we are/ and have changed. There is no need to turn round and round in endless questioning; find yourself and everything will fall into its proper place.
Watch your thoughts as you watch the street traffic. People come and go; you register without response. It may not be easy in the beginning, but with some practice you will find that your mind can function on many levels at the same time and you can be aware of them all.
Learn to live without self concern. _x000D_ _x000D_ For this you must know your own true being as indomitable, fearless and ever victorious. _x000D_ _x000D_ Once you know with absolute certainty that nothing can trouble you but your own imagination, _x000D_ _x000D_ you come to disregard your desires and fears, concepts and ideas, and live by truth alone.
Do not neglect this body. This is the house of God; take care of it, only in this body can God be realized.
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Idleness and pride tax with a heavier hand than kings and governments.
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I am lucky to be what I am! Thank goodness I'm not just a clam, or a ham, or a dusty jar of sour gooseberry jam! I am what I am - that's a great thing to be!