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 β 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 better proof of a man's being truly good than his desiring to be constantly under the observation of good men.
When we understand that man is the only animal who must create meaning, who must open a wedge into neutral nature, we already understand the essence of love. Love is the problem of an animal who must find life, create a dialogue with nature in order to experience his own being.
Nobody can claim the name of Pedro, nobody is Rosa or MarΓa, all of us are dust or sand, all of us are rain under rain. They have spoken to me of Venezuelas, of Chiles and Paraguays; I have no idea what they are saying. I know only the skin of the earth and I know it has no name.
No political event can be judged outside of the era and the circumstances in which it took place.
Mankind's real moral test, a test so radical and so deep that it escapes our gaze, is probably the one of its relations with those that are the most at its mercy; the Animals.
It's totally irrational, patently insane to condemn an entire race - to despise an entire nation - to vilify an entire religion.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.