Compassion is the key in Islam and Buddhism and Judaism and Christianity. They are profoundly similar.
Karen ArmstrongRead
The constant reprimands made me hyperconscious of my own performance, and so instead of getting rid of self, I had become embedded in the egoism I was supposed to transcend. Now I was beginning to understand that a silence that is not clamorous with vexation and worried self-regard can become part of the texture of your mind, can seep into you, moment by moment, and gradually change you.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the idea that external criticism can lead to heightened self-awareness, potentially reinforcing one's ego rather than fostering true self-transcendence.
Karen Armstrong's quote delves into the psychological impact of constant reprimands and criticisms on an individual's self-perception. It suggests that being overly aware of one's performance due to external pressure can lead to increased egoism, counteracting the intention to rise above oneself. However, it also highlights the transformative power of adopting a quiet mind, where the absence of self-focused worries can gradually alter one's state of being, promoting genuine growth and change.
Themes
EgoSelf-AwarenessTranscendenceSilenceChange
In practice
Example use cases
During a workshop on self-improvement, this quote can illustrate the importance of focusing on internal growth.
More from Karen Armstrong
All quotes →Yet a personal God can become a grave liability. He can be a mere idol carved in our own image, a projection of our limited needs, fears and desires. We can assume that he loves what we love and hates what we hate, endorsing our prejudices instead of compelling us to transcend them.
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When violence becomes imbedded in a region, then this affects everything. It affects your dreams, your fantasies and relationships, and your religion becomes violent, too.
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Far from being the father of jihad, [Prophet] Mohammad was a peacemaker, who risked his life and nearly lost the loyalty of his closest companions because he was determined to effect a reconciliation with Mecca
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Yes, all fundamentalists feel that in a secular society, God has been relegated to the margin, to the periphery and they are all in different ways seeking to drag him out of that peripheral position, back to center stage.
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Religion is a search for transcendence. But transcendence isn't necessarily sited in an external god, which can be a very unspiritual, unreligious concept.
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