Self-Realization: It is central to Naess’ Deep Ecology. Naess means by Self-Realization that one has to realize his/her sense of self beyond the narrow ego to identify with all living beings. It is the spiritual realization of the self as the part of human and nonhuman worlds. One has to broaden and deepen their thoughts to realize what they are actually. We have to realize ‘self’ (ego) in ‘Self’ (soul). Naess is quite influenced by Gandhiji when Gandhiji described his ultimate goal in a way that may eccentric to many of us but somewhere or else it is true. Gandhiji said that for the last thirty years what he had been striving for? It is self-realization; to confront with Almighty. Gandhiji wanted to clarify the distinction between the ego or the ‘narrow’ self (jiva) and Self (atamn). He said that if we want to live a happy and peaceful life, then we have to leave aside our egocentric interests and need to realize universal self- the atman. Naess has summarized Gandhiji’s statements in six points in his essay “Self-Realization: An Ecological Approach to being in the World” and they are:
1. We underestimate ourselves. I emphasize ‘self’. We tend to confuse it with the narrow ego.
2. Human nature is such that with sufficient all-sided maturity we cannot avoid “identifying” ourselves with all living beings, beautiful or …show more content…
Because of an inescapable process of identification with others, with growing maturity, the self is widened and deepened. We “see our self in others”. Self-realization is hindered if the self-realization of others, with whom we identify, is hindered. Love of our self-will labor to overcome this obstacle by assisting in the self-realization of others according to the formula “live and let live.” Thus, all that can be achieved by altruism — the dutiful, moral consideration of others — can be achieved — and much more — through widening and deepening our self. Following Immanuel Kant’s critique, we then act beautifully but neither morally nor
1. We underestimate ourselves. I emphasize ‘self’. We tend to confuse it with the narrow ego.
2. Human nature is such that with sufficient all-sided maturity we cannot avoid “identifying” ourselves with all living beings, beautiful or …show more content…
Because of an inescapable process of identification with others, with growing maturity, the self is widened and deepened. We “see our self in others”. Self-realization is hindered if the self-realization of others, with whom we identify, is hindered. Love of our self-will labor to overcome this obstacle by assisting in the self-realization of others according to the formula “live and let live.” Thus, all that can be achieved by altruism — the dutiful, moral consideration of others — can be achieved — and much more — through widening and deepening our self. Following Immanuel Kant’s critique, we then act beautifully but neither morally nor