t of vanity; by
relinquishing the desire for riches; by abstaining from the lust of
self-indulgence; by giving up all hatred, strife, condemnation, and
self-seeking, and becoming gentle and pure at heart; by doing these things
is the Truth found. To do the former, and not to do the latter, is
pharisaism and hypocrisy, whereas the latter includes the former. You may
renounce the outward world, and isolate yourself in a cave or in the depths
of a forest, but you will take all your selfishness with you, and unless
you renounce that, great indeed will be your wretchedness and deep your
delusion. You may remain just where you are, performing all your duties,
and yet renounce the world, the inward enemy. To be in the world and yet
not of the world is the highest perfection, the most blessed peace, is to
achieve the greatest victory. The renunciation of self is the way of Truth,
therefore,

"Enter the Path; there is no grief like hate,
No pain like passion, no deceit like sense;
Enter the Path; far hath he gone whose foot
Treads down one fond offense."

As you succeed in overcoming self you will begin to see things in their
right relations. He who is swayed by any passion, prejudice, like or
dislike, adjusts everything to that particular bias, and sees only his own
delusions. He who is absolutely free from all passion, prejudice,
preference, and partiality, sees himself as he is; sees others as they are;
sees all things in their proper proportions and right relations. Having
nothing to attack, nothing to defend, nothing to conceal, and no interests
to guard, he is at peace. He has realized the profound simplicity of Truth,
for this unbiased, tranquil, blessed state of mind and heart is the state
of Truth. He who attains to it dwells with the angels, and sits at the
footstool of the Supreme. Knowing the Great Law; knowing the origin of
sorrow; knowing the secret of suffering; knowing the way of emancipation in
Truth, how can such a one engage in strife or condemnation; for though he
knows that the blind, self-seeking world, surrounded with the clouds of its
own illusions, and enveloped in the darkness of error and self, cannot
perceive the steadfast Light of Truth, and is utterly incapable of
comprehending the profound simplicity of the heart that has died, or is
dying, to self, yet he also knows that when the suffering ages have piled
up mountains of sorrow, the crushed and burdened soul of the world will