Mapping out the evils of selfishness
Anselmo Ferreira Vasconcelos

Egotism will only be overcome when the individual tries to understand his eminently spiritual nature

After 155 years after the publication of the first issue of The Book of Spirits, a milestone of the age of the immortal Spirit or the immortality of the souls, the spiritual mentors of this world still point out egotism – a subject that deserves our careful reflection – as the main setback to human progress. In this sense, the comments concerning question nº 917, of the afore mentioned work, Allan Kardec concluded that “Egotism is the source of all vices, such as charity is of virtues [...]”. The Decoder also inferred that to destroy one and develop the other should be the objective of every human creature who aims to be happy – as much as one can be in this planet – now and in the future.

Basically, egotism derives from the strong influence of material things in our personality; hence being difficult to get rid of, but not impossible. Highlighting its harms, Chico Xavier, as a disincarnated Spirit, in the book that has, by the way, bears his name (psychographed by Carlos A. Bacelli), pondered that “All the evils that destroy mankind derive from egotism; it is responsible for all kinds of prejudice – racial pride, religious fanaticism, the greed for power: it is what foments wars of mass extermination, the overpowering of a people by another, the disorder that ravages the minds of terrorists…”.

Unfortunately, in this beginning of a millennium, human civilization is still based, most certainly, by selfish behavior, considering that: 

• Poverty and inequality occupy first place in the hierarchy of mankind’s main problems, according to Koffi Annan, former General Secretary of the United Nations;
• 1,4 billion people still live with less than US$1,25 a Day;
• 1,75 billions people live in a state of multidimensional poverty, a wide concept that embraces deprivations in the area of health, economic opportunities, education and standards of living;
• 925 million suffer from chronic starvation;
• 2,6 billion people have no access to decent conditions of sanitation and 884 million people don’t have access to drinkable water;
• 828 million people in underdeveloped countries live in slums, without basic infrastructure, such as roads, water supply, electricity or sewer systems;
• 796 million adults are illiterate;
• 8,8 million children younger than 5 years old die each year of avoidable health problems;
• Around 75% of the population are not covered by adequate health insurance systems;
• 150 million people suffer each year financial distress and 100 million are pushed to levels below poverty line, when obliged to pay for health services.

Paul of Tarsus does not condemn or demonize Money 

It is worth adding that, according to figures from the Ministry of Labor and Employment, 41.451 workers in Brazil were rescued from slave-like situations between 1995 and 2011. Even worse, there is evidence that such abomination is still present throughout the territory. Along with a great deal of the evils described above, there’s the noticeable and excessive attachment to money as a vehement form of egotistical manifestation. A tough trial for the Spirit which, if not understood can lead it to the abyss. That is why Paul of Tarsus once alleged: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (I Timothy, 6:10).

Notice that Paul does not condemn, abominate or demonize money. As an intelligent being, he certainly knew about the importance of this material element for the proper functioning of human societies. Still today we eagerly need paper money for our living, preservation and economic balance in the world. In fact, we are far away from living in an economy based, for instance, on bonuses. But it is predictable that the more we advance in the things of the Spirit, the less relevance money will have in our lives.

Making other relevant considerations, the Spirit Emmanuel, from the book Caminho, Verdade e Vida (psychographed by Francisco C. Xavier), points out that the money we earn from righteous endeavors, blessed by divine clarity, is a friend that seeks a healthy orientation and humanitarian use. But the wise mentor equally warns us: “You will answer to God for the directives you give it and from you this beneficent force will materialize in the dark edifice of inequity”.

Thus, to own money itself is not something negative; however, the purpose for which we gear it to will have a great impact in our future. For this reason, the Spirit Emmanuel, in the book The Gospel According to Spiritualism, observes that: “Egotism, the sore of mankind, has to vanish from the Earth, whose moral development it opposes. Egotism is, therefore, the target to which all believers should aim their weapons, gear their forces, their courage [...]”. After all, most of us bring within ourselves, very visibly still, this stain. The sheer lifestyle we adopted – consumerist and eminently geared at acquiring material goods, in detriment of spiritual possessions (virtues) – favors, as we saw before, selfish behavior. 

There are people incapable of sacrificing themselves for their neighbors 

Emmanuel clarifies the need for “[...]” each and everyone, to apply all efforts, in order to fight within oneself, this monster, destroyer of all intelligence and son of pride that is the maker of all miseries in this earthly world. It’s the denial of charity and furthermore, the greatest obstacle to man’s happiness”. Emmanuel concluded his thought by saying: “This is why Christianity hasn’t yet fulfilled its mission [...]”.

Unfortunately, we continue not to understand that we need to strive to generate welfare for everyone and not only for a few groups.

Finally he calls upon us to expel egotism from the Earth so that it can ascend in the hierarchy of the worlds. But the sine qua non condition in order for this objective to be achieved is to expel this nasty feeling from our hearts. Detach yourself, this is the path to achieve spiritual maturity. 

The Spirit Brother Jose, in the book Vigiai e Orai (psychograhed by Carlos A. Bacelli), approached other aspects concerning the feeling of egotism that deserve an equal reflection from all of us. According to this wise mentor, “There are people who are incapable of sacrificing themselves for their neighbor”. In fact, it is imperative to recognize that, sometimes, these people are underneath the same roof as a son/ daughter and husband or wife, or even as a mother spreading ill energies. “They are not capable of missing a party, in order to help a friend”, ponders the afore mentioned mentor. Following this line of thought, we would say that people with this profile rarely leave their comfort zone and, when they do, are clearly filled with bad mood or personal interest. By the way, it is extremely unpleasant to find out that patients admitted into hospitals with serious diseases have no visitors or have to wait sometimes over a year for their relatives to pay them a visit.

Brother Jose also points out that these people are incapable of renouncing their interests (usually cheap and egocentric), of reviewing a position, of sharing something or even of considering their neighbors as an extension of themselves. By having a blurred mind, they cannot glimmer the moral obligation that we have when doing to others what we, fundamentally, wish done to ourselves.

In general, selfishness can be considered a vice. It is the vice of only looking to yourself, to your own personal interests; essentially, is the addictive attitude of caring about yourself and nobody else. By the way, nowadays we see young people stealing valuables from their own homes – behaving selfishly because of drug addiction – without caring about the pain and deception that they generate or even about the consequences of their madness.       

The practice of good is essential to our mental sanity 

The analysis of egotism also allows for a collective facet. The ever going strikes of transport, hospital and public safety workers are a few unambiguous examples of human indifference. Going a little further within Brother Jose’s thoughts, he states that egotists are the first to take advantage of someone else’s generosity”. Furthermore: “They disguise themselves with humility, but rebel when are not served immediately”. Paradoxically, “They hope from others what they’ve never given anyone”. This way, clarifies the Spirit Chico Xavier, only by getting in touch with your neighbor’s pain, we don’t succumb to our insane narcissistic tantrums. And wraps it up by saying: “The practice of Good to your neighbors is essential to our mental sanity”.

We believe it’s worth remembering a passage from the book Dias Venturosos by the Spirit Amelia Rodrigues (psychographed by Divaldo P. Franco) which brings a thought by the Christ himself about such complex subject. The teachings are magnificently clear and up-to-date. We’ll try to introduce a summary of the lesson and recommend the reader, who’s eager to gather more information, to search into this enlightened piece of work. That said, the mentor from the after-life reminds us that on that day – as it always happened – the master’s sermon attracted a huge mob and “His message full of tenderness and hope called for a moral transformation from his listeners”.

There were countless calls for help and the beggars paid no attention to the visible strain put on him and the wearing of the unforgettable Master. By the way, Amelia Rodrigues pinpoints that “In their blindness and moral imbalance, creatures never see other’s pains, their trials and tribulations, in face of their own challenges”. Unfortunately, such picture hasn’t been dissipated, hence the Spiritualistic Centers receiving a great deal of people at that state of soul. And she adds: “The eagerness to solve their problems, make them indifferent to the afflicted and silent testimonies that hurt those who appeal to it, without consideration”.

Jesus, however, served all with care and compassion “until the moment Simon Peter saved him from this shapeless and insatiable mob”. After a resting and feeding break, in the usual evening gathering for studies, Simon, still affected by an encounter he had with an old enemy who slandered him before, and still feeling hurt and resentful, asked him – motivated by a sincere wish to learn how to proceed before the ones who have caused harm and disturbed us…  

Egotism is responsible for countless evils 

Jesus, solicitous, replied with kindness: “Simon, the true enemies of man are not found outside him, but on his inside, chasing and disturbing him relentlessly [...]”.

Seeking more understanding, Simon asked him who those intimate enemies that we carry within us. The Master was extremely didactic when explaining that: “there are three ferocious enemies inside humans that account for all the miseries that ravage society, tearing apart the subtle fabric of the soul. It is egotism, pride and ignorance”. Such diagnosis still prevails, for we see the terrible consequences of these elements breeding suffering and affliction on a daily basis.

Continuing his teachings, Jesus brought forward the following:

“Egotism is a merciless executioner, who ties his victim to slavery, making him unhappy.

Thanks to egotism social prejudice predominate, economical difficulties, problems of relationship… Like a devouring illness, it attaches to feelings and strangle them with the power of its own madness.

Egotism is responsible for countless evils that devastate mankind. The egotist only thinks about himself, he respects nothing and nobody in his fury to gather all that he ambitions for himself alone. He makes himself greedy and perverted, for he does not care for other people’s needs.

On the other hand, egotism is a toxic that blinds and destroys moral values in the individual, leading him to disregard other creatures around. Believing he is above average and the bearer of values he thinks he has, he underestimates everything in order to stand out wherever he is, showing his moral frailty and the nervous imbalance which he falls prey to.

Ignorance slaves him and makes him a despot being, indifferent to all that does not concern him directly and makes him forget that everyone is an important and interdependent member of the social organism”. 

Egotism should be overcome by solidarity 

Peter, wishing to learn more, inquired the Messiah about how to extirpate such evils from the soul and which antidotes could be used to eliminate them. Jesus offered him the following orientation:

“Egotism should be overcome by solidarity, which opens its arms to kindness and altruism.

A generous heart is full of blessings. The more you share them, the more you have, because they multiply rapidly.

Solidarity cancels loneliness and broadens the circle of mutual assistance, dignifying the being, elevates himself emotionally, magnifying life and mankind.

Pride recedes before humility, which puts the person in the right dimension, finding out his meaning, his reality [...].

Without humility man rebels, for he does not recognize the weakness that is particular to him neither is aware that he will soon be disconnected from the organic realm, leveling everyone in the sepulchral vase…

To ignorance is granted the knowledge of the beloved son of the highest feeling, which is the breath of the Father giving life to everything and everyone, the origin and beginning of the Universe: Love!

[...]

The real victory is always over yourself, in the provinces of the soul.

Forgiveness, the respect to other people’s rights, beneficence and kindness are the beloved sons of love-knowledge that flies in light with wings of charity, making the world a better place and all beings happy”. 

After those deep elucidations, Jesus silenced. After that, he started to walk, whilst the other brethrens fell into deep meditation. Therefore, we spiritualists should consider ourselves immensely happy for having access to works such as the one afore mentioned which brings clarifications and information from the purest source. Finally, egotism will only be overcome when the individual seeks to understand his eminently spiritual reality. Our modest advice is that we seek to extirpate this evil that we carry within ourselves from countless eras in order to be accredited for eternal bliss.  

BIBLIOGRAPHY: 

Bacelli, C. A. (Pelo Espírito Irmão José). Vigiai e orai. 4ª edição. Uberaba: Editora Vitória, 2002, p. 169-170

Bacelli, C.A. (Pelo Espírito Francisco Cândido Xavier). O Espírito de Chico Xavier. 2ª edição. Uberaba: Liv. Espírita Edições “Pedro e Paulo”, 2004, p. 29, 122-123.

Franco, D. P. (Pelo Espírito Amélia Rodrigues). (2009). Dias venturosos. 3ª edição. Salvador, BA: Livraria Espírita Alvorada Editora, Cap. 15, p. 91-96.

Kardec, A. O evangelho segundo o Espiritismo.  79ª edição. Rio de Janeiro: FEB, 1980, Cap. XI, p. 197-198.

Kardec, A. O livro dos Espíritos. 58ª edição. Rio de Janeiro: FEB, 1983, p. 422.

Leite, F. Famílias “esquecem” idosos em hospitais. Folha de São Paulo, São Paulo, 30 abr. 2006. Folha Cotidiano, p. C1.  

Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego. Trabalho Escravo no Brasil em Retrospectiva: Referências para estudos e pesquisas. p. 7, janeiro 2012. Disponível em:

Organização Internacional do Trabalho, (2011). Piso de Proteção Social para uma Globalização Equitativa e Inclusiva. Quadro 1 - A extensão do desafio social global, p. 22.

Xavier, F.C. (Pelo Espírito Emmanuel). Caminho, verdade e vida. 7ª edição. Rio de Janeiro: FEB, 1978, Cap. 57, p. 129-130.