The Two Masters, Self and Truth

Upon the battlefield of the human soul two masters are ever contending for the crown of supremacy, for the kingship and dominion of the heart; the master of self, called also the “Prince of this world,” and the master of Truth, called also the Father God. The master self is that rebellious one whose weapons are passion, pride, avarice, vanity, self-will, implements of darkness; the master Truth is that meek and lowly one whose weapons are gentleness, patience, purity, sacrifice, humility, love, instruments of Light.

On the battlefield of the human soul, two masters constantly fight for the crown, for rule over the heart. One is the master of self, also called the “Prince of this world.” The other is the master of Truth, also called the Father God. The master of self is rebellious. His weapons are passion, pride, greed, vanity, and self-will, all tools of darkness. The master of Truth is gentle and humble. His weapons are gentleness, patience, purity, sacrifice, humility, and love, all instruments of Light.

In every soul the battle is waged, and as a soldier cannot engage at once in two opposing armies, so every heart is enlisted either in the ranks of self or of Truth. There is no half-and-half course; “There is self and there is Truth; where self is, Truth is not, where Truth is, self is not.” Thus spake Buddha, the teacher of Truth, and Jesus, the manifested Christ, declared that “No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.”

The battle is fought in every soul. A soldier cannot serve in two opposing armies at once. In the same way, every heart serves either self or Truth. There is no halfway course. Buddha, the teacher of Truth, said: “There is self and there is Truth. Where self is, Truth is not. Where Truth is, self is not.” Jesus, the manifested Christ, declared: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate one and love the other, or you will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon.”

Truth is so simple, so absolutely undeviating and uncompromising that it admits of no complexity, no turning, no qualification. Self is ingenious, crooked, and, governed by subtle and snaky desire, admits of endless turnings and qualifications, and the deluded worshipers of self vainly imagine that they can gratify every worldly desire, and at the same time possess the Truth. But the lovers of Truth worship Truth with the sacrifice of self, and ceaselessly guard themselves against worldliness and self-seeking.

Truth is so simple, so steady and uncompromising, that it allows no complexity, no deviation, and no exceptions. The self is clever and dishonest. It is ruled by subtle, snakelike desires and allows endless deviations and exceptions. Those who worship the self are deceived. They imagine in vain that they can satisfy every worldly desire and possess Truth at the same time. But those who love Truth worship it by sacrificing the self. They constantly guard against worldliness and self-seeking.

Do you seek to know and to realize Truth? Then you must be prepared to sacrifice, to renounce to the uttermost, for Truth in all its glory can only be perceived and known when the last vestige of self has disappeared.

Do you seek to know and experience Truth? Then you must be prepared to sacrifice and give up everything. For Truth in all its glory can be seen and known only when the last trace of self has disappeared.

The eternal Christ declared that he who would be His disciple must “deny himself daily.” Are you willing to deny yourself, to give up your lusts, your prejudices, your opinions? If so, you may enter the narrow way of Truth, and find that peace from which the world is shut out. The absolute denial, the utter extinction, of self is the perfect state of Truth, and all religions and philosophies are but so many aids to this supreme attainment.

The eternal Christ said that anyone who wants to be his disciple must “deny himself daily.” Are you willing to deny yourself and give up your lusts, prejudices, and opinions? If so, you may enter the narrow way of Truth and find the peace that the world cannot know. The perfect state of Truth is the complete denial and extinction of self. All religions and philosophies are simply aids to achieving this supreme state.

Self is the denial of Truth. Truth is the denial of self. As you let self die, you will be reborn in Truth. As you cling to self, Truth will be hidden from you.

The self denies Truth. Truth denies the self. As you let the self die, you will be reborn in Truth. As you cling to the self, Truth will remain hidden from you.

Whilst you cling to self, your path will be beset with difficulties, and repeated pains, sorrows, and disappointments will be your lot. There are no difficulties in Truth, and coming to Truth, you will be freed from all sorrow and disappointment.

As long as you cling to self, your path will be full of difficulties. You will suffer repeated pain, sorrow, and disappointment. There are no difficulties in Truth. When you come to Truth, you will be freed from all sorrow and disappointment.

Truth in itself is not hidden and dark. It is always revealed and is perfectly transparent. But the blind and wayward self cannot perceive it. The light of day is not hidden except to the blind, and the Light of Truth is not hidden except to those who are blinded by self.

Truth itself is not hidden or dark. It is always visible and perfectly clear. But the blind and misguided self cannot see it. The light of day is hidden only from the blind. In the same way, the Light of Truth is hidden only from those blinded by self.

Truth is the one Reality in the universe, the inward Harmony, the perfect Justice, the eternal Love. Nothing can be added to it, nor taken from it. It does not depend upon any man, but all men depend upon it. You cannot perceive the beauty of Truth while you are looking out through the eyes of self. If you are vain, you will color everything with your own vanities. If lustful, your heart and mind will be so clouded with the smoke and flames of passion, that everything will appear distorted through them. If proud and opinionative, you will see nothing in the whole universe except the magnitude and importance of your own opinions.

Truth is the one Reality in the universe, the inner Harmony, the perfect Justice, the eternal Love. Nothing can be added to it or taken away from it. It does not depend on anyone, but everyone depends on it. You cannot see the beauty of Truth while looking through the eyes of self. If you are vain, you will color everything with your own vanity. If you are lustful, the smoke and flames of passion will cloud your heart and mind. Everything will appear distorted through them. If you are proud and opinionated, you will see nothing in the whole universe except how great and important your own opinions are.

There is one quality which pre-eminently distinguishes the man of Truth from the man of self, and that is humility. To be not only free from vanity, stubbornness and egotism, but to regard one’s own opinions as of no value, this indeed is true humility.

One quality above all distinguishes the man of Truth from the man of self, and that is humility. True humility means being free from vanity, stubbornness, and egotism. It also means seeing your own opinions as having no value.

He who is immersed in self regards his own opinions as Truth, and the opinions of other men as error. But that humble Truth-lover who has learned to distinguish between opinion and Truth, regards all men with the eye of charity, and does not seek to defend his opinions against theirs, but sacrifices those opinions that he may love the more, that he may manifest the spirit of Truth, for Truth in its very nature is ineffable and can only be lived. He who has most of charity has most of Truth.

A person absorbed in self regards their own opinions as Truth and other people's opinions as error. But a humble lover of Truth has learned to distinguish between opinion and Truth. Such a person regards everyone with charity and does not try to defend their opinions against others' opinions. Instead, they give up their opinions so they can love more and show the spirit of Truth. For Truth, by its very nature, cannot be put into words. It can only be lived. Whoever has the most charity has the most Truth.

Men engage in heated controversies, and foolishly imagine they are defending the Truth, when in reality they are merely defending their own petty interests and perishable opinions. The follower of self takes up arms against others. The follower of Truth takes up arms against himself. Truth, being unchangeable and eternal, is independent of your opinion and of mine. We may enter into it, or we may stay outside; but both our defense and our attack are superfluous, and are hurled back upon ourselves.

People argue heatedly and foolishly imagine they are defending the Truth. In reality, they are only defending their own petty interests and temporary opinions. The follower of self takes up arms against others. The follower of Truth takes up arms against himself. Truth is unchanging and eternal, so it does not depend on your opinion or mine. We may enter into Truth, or we may stay outside it. But defending or attacking Truth is unnecessary, and both are thrown back upon us.

Men, enslaved by self, passionate, proud, and condemnatory, believe their particular creed or religion to be the Truth, and all other religions to be error; and they proselytize with passionate ardor. There is but one religion, the religion of Truth. There is but one error, the error of self. Truth is not a formal belief; it is an unselfish, holy, and aspiring heart, and he who has Truth is at peace with all, and cherishes all with thoughts of love.

People enslaved by self are passionate, proud, and quick to judge. They believe their own creed or religion is the Truth, and all other religions are wrong. They try passionately to convert others. There is only one religion, the religion of Truth. There is only one error, the error of self. Truth is not a formal belief. It is an unselfish, holy heart that aspires to what is higher. Those who have Truth are at peace with all and cherish everyone with loving thoughts.

You may easily know whether you are a child of Truth or a worshiper of self, if you will silently examine your mind, heart, and conduct. Do you harbor thoughts of suspicion, enmity, envy, lust, pride, or do you strenuously fight against these? If the former, you are chained to self, no matter what religion you may profess; if the latter, you are a candidate for Truth, even though outwardly you may profess no religion. Are you passionate, self-willed, ever seeking to gain your own ends, self-indulgent, and self-centered; or are you gentle, mild, unselfish, quit of every form of self-indulgence, and are ever ready to give up your own? If the former, self is your master; if the latter, Truth is the object of your affection. Do you strive for riches? Do you fight, with passion, for your party? Do you lust for power and leadership? Are you given to ostentation and self-praise? Or have you given up the love of riches? Have you relinquished all strife? Are you content to take the lowest place, and to be passed by unnoticed? And have you ceased to talk about yourself and to regard yourself with self-complacent pride? If the former, even though you may imagine you worship God, the god of your heart is self. If the latter, even though you may withhold your lips from worship, you are dwelling with the Most High.

You can easily find out whether you are a child of Truth or a worshiper of self. Silently examine your mind, heart, and conduct. Do you harbor thoughts of suspicion, hostility, envy, lust, or pride? Or do you fight hard against them? If you harbor them, you are chained to self, whatever religion you claim to follow. If you fight them, you are a candidate for Truth, even if you openly claim no religion. Are you ruled by passion and determined to have your own way? Are you always trying to get what you want, indulging yourself, and thinking only of yourself? Or are you gentle, mild, and unselfish? Have you given up every form of self-indulgence, and are you always ready to give up what is yours? If the former is true, self is your master. If the latter is true, Truth is what you love. Do you strive for riches? Do you fight passionately for your party? Do you crave power and leadership? Do you like to show off and praise yourself? Or have you given up your love of riches and abandoned all conflict? Are you content to take the lowest place and be passed over unnoticed? Have you stopped talking about yourself and looking at yourself with self-satisfied pride? If the former is true, self is the god of your heart, even if you think you worship God. If the latter is true, you live with the Most High, even if you do not speak words of worship.

The signs by which the Truth-lover is known are unmistakable. Hear the Holy Krishna declare them, in Sir Edwin Arnold’s beautiful rendering of the “Bhagavad Gita”

The signs of a lover of Truth are unmistakable. Listen to the Holy Krishna describe them in Sir Edwin Arnold’s beautiful rendering of the “Bhagavad Gita”:

When men, lost in the devious ways of error and self, have forgotten the “heavenly birth,” the state of holiness and Truth, they set up artificial standards by which to judge one another, and make acceptance of, and adherence to, their own particular theology, the test of Truth; and so men are divided one against another, and there is ceaseless enmity and strife, and unending sorrow and suffering.

When people lose their way in error and self-interest, they forget the “heavenly birth,” the state of holiness and Truth. They create artificial standards for judging one another. They make acceptance of and devotion to their own particular theology the test of Truth. As a result, people are divided against one another, and there is constant hostility and conflict, and endless sorrow and suffering.

Reader, do you seek to realize the birth into Truth? There is only one way: Let self die. All those lusts, appetites, desires, opinions, limited conceptions and prejudices to which you have hitherto so tenaciously clung, let them fall from you. Let them no longer hold you in bondage, and Truth will be yours. Cease to look upon your own religion as superior to all others, and strive humbly to learn the supreme lesson of charity. No longer cling to the idea, so productive of strife and sorrow, that the Savior whom you worship is the only Savior, and that the Savior whom your brother worships with equal sincerity and ardor, is an impostor; but seek diligently the path of holiness, and then you will realize that every holy man is a savior of mankind.

Reader, do you seek to be born into Truth? There is only one way: Let self die. Let go of all the lusts, appetites, desires, opinions, limited ideas, and prejudices you have clung to so tightly. Let them hold you captive no longer, and Truth will be yours. Stop seeing your own religion as superior to all others. Instead, humbly strive to learn the supreme lesson of charity. Stop clinging to the belief that the Savior you worship is the only Savior. This belief causes much conflict and sorrow. It leads you to believe that the Savior your brother worships with equal sincerity and devotion is an impostor. Instead, diligently seek the path of holiness. Then you will realize that every holy man is a savior of mankind.

The giving up of self is not merely the renunciation of outward things. It consists of the renunciation of the inward sin, the inward error. Not by giving up vain clothing; not by relinquishing riches; not by abstaining from certain foods; not by speaking smooth words; not by merely doing these things is the Truth found; but by giving up the spirit 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,

Giving up the self is not merely giving up outward things. It means giving up the sin and error within. Truth is not found merely by giving up showy clothes or wealth, or by avoiding certain foods. Nor is it found merely by speaking pleasant words. Truth is found by giving up vanity and the desire for wealth. It is found by giving up the craving for self-indulgence, and all hatred, conflict, condemnation, and self-seeking. It is found by becoming gentle and pure at heart. To give up outward things without giving up these inner faults is self-righteousness and hypocrisy. But giving up the inner faults includes giving up the outward things. You may renounce the outward world and isolate yourself in a cave or deep in a forest. But you will take all your selfishness with you. Unless you give up your selfishness, your misery will be great and your delusion deep. You may remain where you are, carry out all your duties, and still renounce the world, the enemy within. To be in the world but not of it is the highest perfection and the most blessed peace. It is to achieve the greatest victory. Giving up the self is the way of Truth, therefore,

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 fly to its final refuge, and that when the ages are completed, every prodigal will come back to the fold of Truth. And so he dwells in goodwill toward all, and regards all with that tender compassion which a father bestows upon his wayward children.

As you learn to overcome yourself, you will begin to see how things truly relate to one another. Anyone swayed by passion, prejudice, likes, or dislikes bends everything to fit that bias and sees only their own illusions. A person completely free from passion, prejudice, preference, and partiality sees himself and others as they are. He sees all things in their proper proportions and relations. With nothing to attack, defend, or conceal, and no interests to protect, he is at peace. He has understood the profound simplicity of Truth. This unbiased, tranquil, blessed state of mind and heart is the state of Truth. Whoever reaches it lives among the angels and sits at the footstool of the Supreme. He knows the Great Law, the origin of sorrow, the secret of suffering, and the way to freedom in Truth. How, then, could he engage in conflict or condemnation? He knows that the blind, self-seeking world cannot see the steady Light of Truth. It is surrounded by clouds of its own illusions and wrapped in the darkness of error and self. It is utterly unable to understand the profound simplicity of a heart that has died, or is dying, to self. Yet he also knows that ages of suffering will pile up mountains of sorrow. Then the crushed and burdened soul of the world will flee to its final refuge. When the ages are complete, every wanderer will return to the fold of Truth. And so he lives with goodwill toward all. He regards everyone with the tender compassion a father shows his wayward children.

Men cannot understand Truth because they cling to self, because they believe in and love self, because they believe self to be the only reality, whereas it is the one delusion.

People cannot understand Truth because they cling to the self, believe in it, and love it. They believe the self is the only reality, but it is the one delusion.

When you cease to believe in and love self you will desert it, and will fly to Truth, and will find the eternal Reality.

When you stop believing in and loving the self, you will leave it behind. You will turn to Truth and find eternal Reality.

When men are intoxicated with the wines of luxury, and pleasure, and vanity, the thirst of life grows and deepens within them, and they delude themselves with dreams of fleshly immortality, but when they come to reap the harvest of their own sowing, and pain and sorrow supervene, then, crushed and humiliated, relinquishing self and all the intoxications of self, they come, with aching hearts to the one immortality, the immortality that destroys all delusions, the spiritual immortality in Truth.

When people are intoxicated by the wine of luxury, pleasure, and vanity, their thirst for life grows ever deeper. They deceive themselves with dreams of physical immortality. But when they reap what they have sown, pain and sorrow follow. Crushed and humbled, they give up the self and everything that intoxicates it. With aching hearts, they come to the one immortality that destroys all illusions: spiritual immortality in Truth.

Men pass from evil to good, from self to Truth, through the dark gate of sorrow, for sorrow and self are inseparable. Only in the peace and bliss of Truth is all sorrow vanquished. If you suffer disappointment because your cherished plans have been thwarted, or because someone has not come up to your anticipations, it is because you are clinging to self. If you suffer remorse for your conduct, it is because you have given way to self. If you are overwhelmed with chagrin and regret because of the attitude of someone else toward you, it is because you have been cherishing self. If you are wounded on account of what has been done to you or said of you, it is because you are walking in the painful way of self. All suffering is of self. All suffering ends in Truth. When you have entered into and realized Truth, you will no longer suffer disappointment, remorse, and regret, and sorrow will flee from you.

People pass from evil to good, from self to Truth, through the dark gate of sorrow. For sorrow and self cannot be separated. Only in the peace and bliss of Truth is all sorrow overcome. If you are disappointed because your cherished plans have been blocked, you are clinging to self. The same is true if you are disappointed because someone has not met your expectations. If you feel remorse for your actions, you have given in to self. If someone else's attitude toward you fills you with frustration and regret, you have been cherishing self. If you are hurt by what someone has done to you or said about you, you are following the painful path of self. All suffering comes from self. All suffering ends in Truth. When you have entered into Truth and realized it, you will no longer suffer disappointment, remorse, or regret. Sorrow will flee from you.

The woe of the world is of its own making. Sorrow purifies and deepens the soul, and the extremity of sorrow is the prelude to Truth.

The world creates its own suffering. Sorrow purifies and deepens the soul, and the deepest sorrow comes before Truth.

Have you suffered much? Have you sorrowed deeply? Have you pondered seriously upon the problem of life? If so, you are prepared to wage war against self, and to become a disciple of Truth.

Have you suffered greatly? Have you felt deep sorrow? Have you thought seriously about the problem of life? If so, you are ready to fight against yourself and become a disciple of Truth.

The intellectual who do not see the necessity for giving up self, frame endless theories about the universe, and call them Truth; but do thou pursue that direct line of conduct which is the practice of righteousness, and thou wilt realize the Truth which has no place in theory, and which never changes. Cultivate your heart. Water it continually with unselfish love and deep-felt pity, and strive to shut out from it all thoughts and feelings which are not in accordance with Love. Return good for evil, love for hatred, gentleness for ill-treatment, and remain silent when attacked. So shall you transmute all your selfish desires into the pure gold of Love, and self will disappear in Truth. So will you walk blamelessly among men, yoked with the easy yoke of lowliness, and clothed with the divine garment of humility.

Intellectuals who do not see the need to give up self create endless theories about the universe and call them Truth. But follow the direct path of doing what is right. Then you will realize the Truth that has no place in theory and never changes. Cultivate your heart. Water it constantly with unselfish love and deep compassion. Strive to keep out all thoughts and feelings that are not in harmony with Love. Return good for evil, love for hatred, and gentleness for ill-treatment. Remain silent when attacked. In this way, you will transform all your selfish desires into the pure gold of Love, and self will disappear in Truth. Then you will walk blamelessly among people, bearing the easy yoke of lowliness and wearing the divine garment of humility.