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Man is not entirely an animal. He aspires to a spiritual vision, which is the vision of the whole truth. This gives him the highest delight, because it reveals to him the deepest harmony that exists between him and his surroundings. It is our desires that limit the scope of our self-realisation, hinder our extension of consciousness, and give rise to sin, which is the innermost barrier that keeps us apart from our God, setting up disunion and the arrogance of exclusiveness. For sin is not one mere action, but it is an attitude of life which takes for granted that our goal is finite, that our self is the ultimate truth, and that we are not all essentially one but exist each for his own separate individual existence.

Rabindranath Tagore#15

SpiritualityConsciousnessGodDesireSin

About this quote

What does it mean?
Humans transcend animal instincts by seeking spiritual truth, which brings harmony and joy. Desires and selfish attitudes create sin, blocking union with the divine.
In plain terms
Seeking spiritual truth brings joy and harmony, while selfish desires separate us from God.
What can you take from it?
Overcome selfish desires to realize your unity with all.

Where it applies

  • spiritual reflection
  • ethical decision-making
  • religious study

Putting it to work

  • meditation on unity
  • examining desires
  • cultivating humility

Questions to consider

  • What desires limit your self-realisation?
  • How do you define sin?

Another view

This view assumes a specific spiritual framework that not all share.

More from Rabindranath Tagore

  1. Of course man is useful to man, because his body is a marvellous machine and his mind an organ of wonderful efficiency. But he is a spirit as well, and this sp…

    Permalink to quote #14
  2. We never can have a true view of man unless we have a love for him. Civilisation must be judged and prized, not by the amount of power it has developed, but by…

    Permalink to quote #16
  3. Want of love is a degree of callousness; for love is the perfection of consciousness. We do not love because we do not comprehend, or rather we do not comprehe…

    Permalink to quote #13

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