When all the Self was conquered and dead, when all passions and desires were silent, then the last must awaken, the innermost of Being that is no longer Self - the great secret!
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes transcendence beyond the self and desires to discover a deeper truth of existence.
Hermann Hesse's quote reflects the idea that true understanding and enlightenment come when one overcomes their personal ego, desires, and passions. In this state of self-conquest, an individual can awaken to the essence of being, which is a profound realization that transcends individual identity and ego, leading to deeper insights about existence and the interconnectedness of life.
In practice
In a meditation class discussing self-awareness, this quote can help illustrate the importance of overcoming personal ego.
I shall no longer be instructed by the Yoga Veda or the Aharva Veda, or the ascetics, or any other doctrine whatsoever. I shall learn from myself, be a pupil of myself; I shall get to know myself, the mystery of Siddhartha." He looked around as if he were seeing the world for the first time.
That is where my dearest and brightest dreams have ranged — to hear for the duration of a heartbeat the universe and the totality of life in its mysterious, innate harmony.
I, also, would like to look and smile, sit and walk like that, so free, so worthy, so restrained, so candid, so childlike and mysterious. A man only looks and walks like that when he has conquered his Self. I also will conquer my Self.
You're quite right there," he said. "I have practiced abstinence myself for years, and had my time of fasting, too, but now I find myself once more beneath the sign of Aquarius, a dark and humid constellation.
I call that man awake who, with conscious knowledge and understanding, can perceive the deep unreasoning powers in his soul, his whole innermost strength, desire and weakness, and knows how to reckon with himself.
Despair is the result of each earnest attempt to go through life with virtue, justice and understanding, and to fulfill their requirements. Children live on one side of despair, the awakened on the other side.
There is no sickness worse for me than words that to be kind must lie.
The evils of mortals are manifold; nowhere is trouble of the same wing seen.
We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures, we are the sum of the Father's love for us and our real capacity to become the image of His Son Jesus.
History is various and sinuous and no essential part of the human spirit is ever wholly absent from it.
There is no avoiding the fact that we live at the mercy of our ideas This is never more true than with our ideas about God.
The universe, the solar system, and planet earth in themselves and in their evolutionary emergence constitute for the human community the primary revelation of that ultimate mystery whence all things emerge into being.
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