Radical Change

As long as a person persists in the error of believing himself to be one unique individual, it is evident that radical change would be more than impossible.

The very fact that the esoteric work begins with the rigorous observation of oneself is indicating to us a multiplicity of psychological factors, “I’s” or undesirable elements that need to be urgently extirpated, eradicated from our interior.

Unquestionably, it would not be possible in any way to eliminate unknown errors. It is urgent to previously observe that which we want to separate from our psyche.

This type of work is not external but internal, and those who think that any manual of manners or external and superficial system of ethics can take them to success are, in fact, totally mistaken.

The Observer and the Observed

It is very clear and not difficult to comprehend that when one seriously begins to observe oneself from the point of view that the “myself” is not “one” but “many,” one then really begins to work on all that is carried within.

Hindrances, obstacles, stumbling blocks for the work of intimate Self-observation, such are the following psychological defects:

• Megalomania: delusions of grandeur, to believe that one is a God.
• Self-worship: belief in a permanent “I,” adoration of any type of alter-ego.
• Paranoia: know-it all ignoramus, self-sufficiency, vanity, thinking oneself infallible, mystical pride, a person who does not like to see another person’s point of view.

Negative Thoughts

In this devolving and decadent era, it is unusual for anyone to think with profundity and with full attention.

Diverse thoughts surge from the intellectual center, not from a permanent “I,” as the learned ignoramuses foolishly assume, but from the different “I’s” in each of us.

When a person is thinking, he firmly believes that he is the one who is thinking in himself and by himself.

Individuality

Indeed, to believe that we are “one” is a joke made in very bad taste. Unfortunately, this vain illusion exists within each one of us.

It is unfortunate that we always think the best of ourselves. It never occurs to us to comprehend that we do not even possess true individuality.

The worst of the matter is that we give ourselves the false luxury of assuming that each one of us enjoys full consciousness and a will of our own.

Woe to us! What nitwits we are! There is no doubt that ignorance is the worst of all disgraces.