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 Self-infringement...........1
rebellion and overlook what within you creates your self-infringement, the less you find true self- love and 240 ASPECTS OF THE ANATOMY OF LOVE: SELF-LOVE, STRUCTURE, FREEDOM
 
 Self-interest...............23
on the path of self-development, then neither material self-interest nor vanity or any other obstacle will stand 9 PRAYER AND MEDITATION -- THE LORD'S PRAYER
soul movements which must run counter to one's self-interest. The conditions produced by these soul movements increase 126 CONTACT WITH THE LIFE FORCE
distorted, false love impoverishes and breeds conflict between self-interest and the interests of others. It comes from 133 LOVE: NOT A COMMANDMENT, BUT SPONTANEOUS SOUL MOVEMENT OF THE INNER SELF
is completely objective; it disregards the small, vain self-interest -- and this is one of the reasons 143 UNITY AND DUALITY
all personal happiness, fulfillment, gratification on all levels, self-interest, self-assertion. In this duality, all these contradict goodness 159 LIFE MANIFESTATION REFLECTS DUALISTIC ILLUSION
duality and error are rampant. Therefore conflict between self-interest and the interest of others is inevitable. It 164 FURTHER ASPECTS OF POLARITY -- SELFISHNESS
are one, within. You will inevitably experience that self-interest in the right way can never interfere with 164 FURTHER ASPECTS OF POLARITY -- SELFISHNESS
it and deludes itself into claiming that true self-interest is nothing but egotism and destructive selfishness. This 164 FURTHER ASPECTS OF POLARITY -- SELFISHNESS
and fear of your probing -- that healthy self-interest cannot be against the true interests of others 164 FURTHER ASPECTS OF POLARITY -- SELFISHNESS
the part that wants to abdicate self-responsibility. Healthy self-interest can, however, be against the interest of stagnation 164 FURTHER ASPECTS OF POLARITY -- SELFISHNESS
decision between goodness and joy, morality and pleasure, self-interest and love, you cannot ever fully decide, and 172 THE LIFE ENERGY CENTERS
It offers solutions that unify decency, honesty, and self-interest; love and pleasure; reality and bliss; fulfillment of 175 CONSCIOUSNESS: FASCINATION WITH CREATION
of using power against others. The illusion that self-interest must be against the interest of others is 208 THE INNATE HUMAN CAPACITY TO CREATE
serve a larger cause, to forget the little self-interest, at least some of the time, for the 212 CLAIMING THE TOTAL CAPACITY FOR GREATNESS
in puny fear that this might damage your self-interest, to that same degree must you hold back 212 CLAIMING THE TOTAL CAPACITY FOR GREATNESS
part of you that sells out your genuine self-interest, your real rights, in order to please some 223 THE ERA OF THE NEW AGE AND NEW CONSCIOUSNESS
my friends. For when you are blinded by self-interest and self-righteousness, by resentments and demands, by fear 237 LEADERSHIP -- THE ART OF TRANSCENDING FRUSTRATION
to own how difficult it is to put self-interest out of the way. For if self- interest 242 THE SPIRITUAL MEANING OF POLITICAL SYSTEMS
becomes evident that God's will coincides with your self-interest in the best and most far-reaching way. The 246 TRADITION: ITS DIVINE AND DISTORTED ASPECTS
would have meant overcoming personal pride, power drives, self-interest and self-serving opportunism. If this had happened, no 247 THE MASS IMAGES OF JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY
secondary guilt. The mask self claimed greed, calculating self-interest, prideful appearance values, and the mutual using of 251 THE EVOLUTION AND SPIRITUAL MEANING OF MARRIAGE -- NEW AGE MARRIAGE
to fight objectively for truth and to disregard self-interest and hidden agendas will give you sufficient strength 254 SURRENDER
see that if they pursue nothing but their self-interest to the detriment of others, they go far 257 ASPECTS OF THE NEW DIVINE INFLUX: COMMUNICATION, GROUP CONSCIOUSNESS, EXPOSURE
 
 Self-interests..............3
self- interest almost always interferes with the egotistical self-interests of the other person. This is why following 164 FURTHER ASPECTS OF POLARITY -- SELFISHNESS
other person. This is why following one's true self-interests is often a great struggle and requires a 164 FURTHER ASPECTS OF POLARITY -- SELFISHNESS
You can afford to give up the little self-interests. You can afford to be in a state 239 CHRISTMAS LECTURE 1975
 
 Self-investigation..........1
say, provided you take the necessary steps of self-investigation. As I have already indicated, human beings strive 112 HUMANITYS RELATIONSHIP TO TIME
 
 Self-involved...............2
more it is possible that you are still self-involved, withdrawn, fearful, anxious, bound, and blind to the 99 FALSIFIED IMPRESSIONS OF PARENTS: THEIR CAUSE AND CURE
own sometimes appears, to the uninitiated and still self-involved, an unwelcome development that one cannot identify as 165 EVOLUTIONARY PHASES IN RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REALMS OF FEELINGS, REASON, AND WILL
 
 Self-involvement............2
to fulfill its needs without the necessity of self-involvement. The price you pay for such evasion is 100 MEETING THE PAIN OF DESTRUCTIVE PATTERNS
confusion of the workings of your mind, its self-involvement, its blindness to itself and its tendency to 175 CONSCIOUSNESS: FASCINATION WITH CREATION
 
 Selfish.....................282
even from the point of view of your selfish ego, as you will see once you go 2 DECISIONS AND TESTS
person who has this particular misconception is necessarily selfish. He or she may even be less selfish 4 WORLD WEARINESS
selfish. He or she may even be less selfish than another who has already found the key 4 WORLD WEARINESS
or just emotionally, and this goal is a selfish one, they will often not be able to 5 HAPPINESS FOR YOURSELF OR HAPPINESS AS A LINK IN THE CHAIN OF LIFE
Such a choice however might easily be too selfish. On the other hand, if you were affected 5 HAPPINESS FOR YOURSELF OR HAPPINESS AS A LINK IN THE CHAIN OF LIFE
very hard to recognize where he has been selfish; next, as he asks more and more to 7 ASKING FOR HELP AND HELPING OTHERS
which he now sees as examples of his selfish behavior. Such recognitions will make him very uncomfortable 7 ASKING FOR HELP AND HELPING OTHERS
paying the price. It is very proud and selfish, and always has a great deal of personal 14 THE HIGHER SELF, THE LOWER SELF, AND THE MASK
scents. For example, a person may want something selfish and because he or she does not want 14 THE HIGHER SELF, THE LOWER SELF, AND THE MASK
that this is selfishness, begins to rationalize the selfish desire and fool himself or herself about it 14 THE HIGHER SELF, THE LOWER SELF, AND THE MASK
the person to be quite ruthless about a selfish desire. It is not difficult for anyone of 14 THE HIGHER SELF, THE LOWER SELF, AND THE MASK
they were already unselfish. But they actually are selfish, and feel the selfishness. They hate the pressure 14 THE HIGHER SELF, THE LOWER SELF, AND THE MASK
people remain convinced that they need to be selfish, but are also untrue to their nature, violating 14 THE HIGHER SELF, THE LOWER SELF, AND THE MASK
your desire to do your best diluted by selfish and vain reasons? Once you have given yourself 18 FREE WILL
separated these two trends in yourself -- the selfish or vain one from the one that wishes 18 FREE WILL
ultimate goal because this again would be a selfish goal, and selfishness is diametrically opposed to mysticism 18 FREE WILL
there are some ruthless people who are completely selfish. The majority of the people follow some cause 23 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
whole nations to kill each other for their selfish interests. Deep down they know and sense this 23 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
evaluated in the same way as the purely selfish and wicked one -- and therefore this must 23 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
path is well worth taking, even from your selfish point of view, and even though your main 26 FINDING ONE'S FAULTS
to my good motive, there is also a selfish or vain motive hidden under the good cause 29 THE FORCES OF ACTIVITY AND PASSIVITY -- FINDING GOD'S WILL
and to be a better human being also selfish since this means that we become happy? ANSWER 30 SELF-WILL, PRIDE AND FEAR
certainly does not help you to become less selfish. The mere fact that you are thinking about 33 OCCUPATION WITH SELF -- RIGHT AND WRONG FAITH
they are used for good or for evil, selfish, destructive purposes. In the latter case, material progress 34 PREPARATION FOR REINCARNATION
about that, my friends! Some people are so selfish that they do not want to do anything 38 IMAGES
many people are afraid that their prayers are selfish. But that depends very much on how you 39 IMAGE-FINDING
cannot say of any act that it is selfish or not without examining it. Aside from crass 39 IMAGE-FINDING
other reason, then, of course, it is a selfish prayer and it will do no good at 39 IMAGE-FINDING
of your soul will have an effect. A selfish prayer indicates a misunderstanding of life and is 39 IMAGE-FINDING
construed as selfishness. Furthermore, it is certainly not selfish to pray for the good of other creatures 39 IMAGE-FINDING
your resistance to developing yourself, there is nothing selfish in that. If you believe that wanting the 39 IMAGE-FINDING
you are, as still imperfect. Even if the selfish motive is not as pure as expecting happiness 39 IMAGE-FINDING
this kind of prayer there is certainly nothing selfish. For God wants you to be happy. It 39 IMAGE-FINDING
their wake. Such a person cannot help being selfish and destructive, although this kind of selfishness is 43 THREE BASIC PERSONALITY TYPES: REASON, WILL, EMOTION
a goodness he has never known. The utterly selfish person will, while this feeling lasts, have unselfish 44 THE FORCES OF LOVE, EROS, AND SEX
that sphere. The pure sex force is utterly selfish. Sex without eros and without love is referred 44 THE FORCES OF LOVE, EROS, AND SEX
harmoniously, are refined, and become less and less selfish. Nor do I mean that a human being 44 THE FORCES OF LOVE, EROS, AND SEX
this yearning and aside from the superficial and selfish motives of your unfulfilled desire for partnership, there 44 THE FORCES OF LOVE, EROS, AND SEX
this yearning and aside from the superficial and selfish motives of your unfulfilled desire for partnership, there 44 THE FORCES OF LOVE, EROS, AND SEX
is separated from love, and therefore the more selfish it is. Anything without love is sinful, if 44 THE FORCES OF LOVE, EROS, AND SEX
love force. Consequently, sex in fact often is selfish and loveless, raw and animalistic. If people would 44 THE FORCES OF LOVE, EROS, AND SEX
of your higher self, but simultaneously lower and selfish aims are also present in your motivation. These 45 THE CONFLICT BETWEEN CONSCIOUS AND UNCONSCIOUS DESIRES
purify yourself to such an extent that these selfish, proud, vain, and fearful motives cease to exist 45 THE CONFLICT BETWEEN CONSCIOUS AND UNCONSCIOUS DESIRES
good. But I recognize that this or that selfish motive also plays a role. I will continue 45 THE CONFLICT BETWEEN CONSCIOUS AND UNCONSCIOUS DESIRES
best of intentions: you know certain reactions are selfish or unloving, and you do not like to 45 THE CONFLICT BETWEEN CONSCIOUS AND UNCONSCIOUS DESIRES
admired. Therefore, the desire for goodness is also selfish. Understand this and recognize within yourself that the 47 THE WALL WITHIN
you can separate the pure motive from the selfish one. This confusion is so strong at times 47 THE WALL WITHIN
the desire for goodness, particularly after discovering the selfish motives. You should certainly continue to aim for 47 THE WALL WITHIN
human beings who are still spiritual infants, seek selfish ends and believe that their selfishness will serve 47 THE WALL WITHIN
ends often brings greater disadvantage than resisting such selfish impulses. At this level, the entity has outgrown 47 THE WALL WITHIN
development, good is done outwardly but one harbors selfish and evil thoughts quite consciously and knowingly. When 47 THE WALL WITHIN
more deeply buried. Good desires are superimposed on selfish ones, which are suppressed and relegated to the 47 THE WALL WITHIN
of the higher self and partly to the selfish ends of the lower self. Here begin the 47 THE WALL WITHIN
way or another. The more you keep the selfish motives suppressed, the more confusion and disorder are 47 THE WALL WITHIN
from hurt. In what way have I been selfish? In what way has my conclusion been wrong 49 OBSTACLES ON THE PATH: OLD STUFF, WRONG GUILT, AND WHO, ME?
is so destructive. You will not bury the selfish emotions and look away from them but rather 49 OBSTACLES ON THE PATH: OLD STUFF, WRONG GUILT, AND WHO, ME?
love -- to relinquish a fear that is selfish in nature. If you allow yourself to love 49 OBSTACLES ON THE PATH: OLD STUFF, WRONG GUILT, AND WHO, ME?
the past. I was ignorant and blind and selfish. I was too much of a coward to 49 OBSTACLES ON THE PATH: OLD STUFF, WRONG GUILT, AND WHO, ME?
yet in your sphere of existence. The more selfish you are, the more immature you are. You 49 OBSTACLES ON THE PATH: OLD STUFF, WRONG GUILT, AND WHO, ME?
still undeveloped, where you are primitive in your selfish reactions. Your selfishness may come as a shock 49 OBSTACLES ON THE PATH: OLD STUFF, WRONG GUILT, AND WHO, ME?
decisions; it cannot be independent of weak and selfish motives -- and therefore must depend on other 50 THE VICIOUS CIRCLE
nor humanly possible. The love it wants is selfish; it does not want to share love with 50 THE VICIOUS CIRCLE
consciously think is right oppresses them. Perhaps their selfish instincts are still so strong that their real 50 THE VICIOUS CIRCLE
do what is unflattering, uncomfortable, and against your selfish desires. Then your hope that your inner voice 50 THE VICIOUS CIRCLE
hope that your inner voice warning against your selfish desire may be your compulsive conscience is unjustified 50 THE VICIOUS CIRCLE
do not have to commit a harmful and selfish act to be honest. It is sufficient that 51 IMPORTANCE OF FORMING INDEPENDENT OPINIONS
your whole personality that wishes to commit the selfish act. It can only be a part of 51 IMPORTANCE OF FORMING INDEPENDENT OPINIONS
one alternative is right and the other is selfish. COMMENT: We have learned by now that very 51 IMPORTANCE OF FORMING INDEPENDENT OPINIONS
is confronted with the choice of an obviously selfish or unselfish act. The other problem you bring 51 IMPORTANCE OF FORMING INDEPENDENT OPINIONS
whether these valid motives may also hide a selfish one. You will know how to evaluate it 52 THE GOD-IMAGE
mere discovery and knowledge of the possible hidden selfish motive will show you what course to take 52 THE GOD-IMAGE
generalization can be made. The discovery of the selfish motive will show you that the outer selfless 52 THE GOD-IMAGE
spite of the fact that you have discovered selfish motives; you will see that although there is 52 THE GOD-IMAGE
of realizing possible hidden motives which may be selfish, while the outer conscious motive may be unselfish 52 THE GOD-IMAGE
image that any consideration of the self is selfish and sinful. This mass image hinders their ability 53 SELF-LOVE
from making any decision. Either you are being selfish or masochistic, because in not considering yourself with 53 SELF-LOVE
produce the same results as inconsiderate, heedless and selfish decisions that are made without further thought. It 54 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
error to believe that independent decisions are necessarily selfish and self-willed, it is equally erroneous that refusal 54 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
personality experiences the sex impulse in an entirely selfish and separated way it is sinful, if you 54 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
say: By constantly thinking about myself I become selfish. It is better to think of other people 55 THREE COSMIC PRINCIPLES: THE EXPANDING, THE RESTRICTING, AND THE STATIC PRINCIPLES
many of you may think this is a selfish desire. We will discuss this separately a little 56 CAPACITY TO WISH -- HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY MOTIVES IN DESIRE
impure. The mere fact that the impure and selfish motives are conscious causes the wish capacity to 56 CAPACITY TO WISH -- HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY MOTIVES IN DESIRE
wish. Humanity is very confused about what is selfish and what is unselfish. Suppose you desire perfect 56 CAPACITY TO WISH -- HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY MOTIVES IN DESIRE
you may have thoughts like this: This is selfish. I have no right to desire something so 56 CAPACITY TO WISH -- HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY MOTIVES IN DESIRE
error, my friends. You often believe something is selfish that in reality has nothing to do with 56 CAPACITY TO WISH -- HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY MOTIVES IN DESIRE
haven't an inkling that you are egocentric or selfish. To desire health because in your full strength 56 CAPACITY TO WISH -- HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY MOTIVES IN DESIRE
others and to yourself -- is certainly not selfish in the least, even though it seems to 56 CAPACITY TO WISH -- HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY MOTIVES IN DESIRE
enjoy it, even this wish need not be selfish. But should you desire health for the purpose 56 CAPACITY TO WISH -- HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY MOTIVES IN DESIRE
it ever so subtly, then it would be selfish. When I say harm, I do not mean 56 CAPACITY TO WISH -- HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY MOTIVES IN DESIRE
these lines, you will also find wrong, impure, selfish, and unhealthy motives in your desires that are 56 CAPACITY TO WISH -- HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY MOTIVES IN DESIRE
this through, becoming aware of imperfect reactions or selfish emotions will not depress you. I assure you 56 CAPACITY TO WISH -- HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY MOTIVES IN DESIRE
or idealistic: they would have to be ruthless, selfish -- and would often have to betray the 57 THE MASS IMAGE OF SELF-IMPORTANCE
follow in such a way as if the selfish side had won out. The outer result must 57 THE MASS IMAGE OF SELF-IMPORTANCE
to betray others, to be ruthless, disloyal, or selfish. But as long as your good intentions prevent 57 THE MASS IMAGE OF SELF-IMPORTANCE
the sake of perfection itself, but seek a selfish end. And it is wrong further because you 58 THE DESIRE FOR HAPPINESS AND THE DESIRE FOR UNHAPPINESS
prey to his or her own immature and selfish nature. Does that answer your question? QUESTION: There 59 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
I can kill and plunder and be as selfish as I want. My wrong actions cannot harm 60 THE ABYSS OF ILLUSION -- FREEDOM AND SELF-RESPONSIBILITY
would be happier to be able to be selfish. On the other hand, unselfishness is considered virtuous 63 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
It leads people into confusion. It is not selfish to have the right to be what you 63 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

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