Works? Works? A man get to heaven by works? I would as soon think of climbing to the moon on a rope of sand!
George WhitefieldRead
We have to distinguish between a man as he is in essence, and as he is in ego or personality. In essence, every person is perfect, fearless, and in a loving unity with the entire cosmos; there is no conflict within the person between head, heart, and stomach or between the person and others. Then something happens: the ego begins to develop, karma accumulates, there is a transition from objectivity to subjectivity; man falls from essence into personality.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the distinction between our true selves and our ego-driven personalities.
Oscar Ichazo's quote explores the concept that at our core, every individual exists in a state of perfection and unity with the cosmos. However, as the ego develops over time—due to accumulated experiences and karma—we can become disconnected from our true essence and instead identify with a subjective personality that often leads to internal and external conflicts.
Themes
EssenceEgoPersonalityPerfectionUnityCosmos
In practice
Example use cases
In a self-improvement seminar discussing the importance of self-awareness.
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