Control yourself!

From an ongoing translation of Weisheit der Orients [Wisdom of the East] by J. B. Krebs (aka J. B. Kerning):

Determination and Self-Control

Control yourself! This is the first rule of the human who wants to become a disciple of wisdom. The external world has given and chained to us such a powerful pseudo-ego that we no longer experience the inner, true ego at all. This inner ego, however, is our actual life. If we want to find this lost ego again, then we must subjugate and control the external pseudo-ego. Through that the inner-being receives the freedom to move, to show itself to us, and to reveal its sublime characteristics.

The common human lives for the outward appearance, for the shell, and does not worry about the content. The exterior is often splendidly dressed up, but the interior empty. Will the human never learn to recognise his own worth?

Self-control is only difficult in appearance. How often the human forces himself for the sake of small aims to obtain honour or gold, to deceive others or to satisfy a passion. How much the human is capable of overcoming himself when it gets serious for him! Only we lack the seriousness when we are not what we should be. We not virtuous and are not enlightened only because it has not gotten serious for us to be so. We are still wandering in the darkness only because we could not yet bring ourselves to desire and to seek the light in earnest. Should we wait yet longer in childish indecisiveness, or seek the good in earnest?

The determined criminal has more worth than such a half-creature who does not have the courage to be something whole, be it good or bad; for he is like a leaf which is driven by the wind here and there. Grasp the gravity, then you have won. Anyone who just shows himself the seriousness is certain of the goal.

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