Self Denial

                                                                                                                       Self Denial

Self-denial A traditional approach to spiritual realization would include repetitive prayer, painful disciplines, suffering misfortune, social isolation, and poverty. Most who take such a path of self-denial expect to realize something of great value and personal significance; but there is an incongruity in practicing self-denial as a means of self-awareness. The end negates the means! The objective refutes the methodology. The destination denies the journey. If there is any validity to self-denial then ignorance is the only end that would be justified by such means. A spiritual pilgrim on the path of self-denial would never arrive at the realization he seeks, for he would have to deny himself the benefit, the satisfaction, the fulfillment.

The general voice of mankind, civil and barbarous, confesses that the mind and body are at variance, and that neither can be made happy by its proper gratifications, but at the expense of the other; that a pampered body will darken the mind, and an enlightened mind will macerate the body. And none have failed to confer their esteem on those who prefer intellect to sense, who control their lower by their higher faculties, and forget the wants and desires of animal life for rational disquisitions or pious contemplations.

The earth has scarcely a country, so far advanced towards political regularity as to divide the inhabitants into classes, where some orders of men or women are not distinguished by voluntary severities, and where the reputation of their sanctity is not increased in proportion to the rigour of their rules, and the exactness of their performance.

When an opinion to which there is no temptation of interest spreads wide, and continues long, it may be reasonably presumed to have been infused by nature or dictated by reason. It has been often observed that the fictions of impostures and illusions of fancy, soon give way to time and experience; and that nothing keeps its ground but truth, which gains every day new influence by new confirmation.

To set the mind above the appetites is the end of abstinence, which one of the Fathers observes to be not a virtue, but the ground-work of virtue. By forbearing to do what may innocently be done, we may add hourly new vigour to resolution, and secure the power of resistance when pleasure or interest shall lend their charms to guilt.

Thank You!!

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