Self-preservation is a basic survival mechanism imprinted in the DNA of all living things. It is a proven fact that even plants are communicating, by sound, and certain chemicals they release to convey a message of 'fight or flight'
We humans possess a substantial leap in abilities when it comes to communicate with our peers, and we can express states of mind, thoughts, feelings with multitude of tools, such as words, body language etc. I'm not going to argue the origin, or time in history of humans acquiring such skills, because that is a controversial topic, and deserves a complete investigation in another post!
Ever since we are conceived our personality, appearance and capabilities are there in our DNA. Nobody can dispute this! Even the time of our death is hidden in that tiny helix. This tiny thing gives our identity, the core of who we are!
The 'Self', or the core is unchangeable, in spite of a lifetime of attempts just to do the opposite. The self is something we can rely on at times of desperations, failures, tragedies and disappointments. It is our inheritance, reliable and is not of our making!
At an early age, the role of parents is crucial in developing the self-awareness of the child. Every attempt to veto, or alter this process, has detrimental, long term effects on an undeveloped life. Emphasize self-awareness, character, integrity, values, educate on things that have no validity, importance or truth. Teaching wholeness is crucial for fulfillment, which eliminates the need for change.
This concludes my case to state the argument for the 'Self'.
As for 'selfishness' for demonstration I will use an analogy that could be compelling for some, and controversial for others.
Imagine our 'Self' as a fortress, or castle. Made for us and not by us. Impenetrable, invincible, unchangeable, generous and majestic. Sits in a field, ageless, peaceful and quiet, harboring the ruler of the surrounding land, far and wide. There are no fences surrounding this vast kingdom, because the castle walls are made of everlasting stone, no need for defense. At some point, in our early years of development, the neighboring king plots to challenge our authority. In a moment of despair, immature vulnerability and fear, we leave the safety of the castle walls to fend our borders. Far out on the battle fields, in lack of stones we start building walls of bales of straw, wide and tall. We place all our believes, trust and safety in a structure, that can tumble, or go up in flames any moment by the tiniest of spark.
The straw bastion represents now the new defense system of our altered 'self'! Because we know that is vulnerable and unreliable, we devote complete attention to it, so much so that we forget about the real safety of the fortress we left behind.
Sometimes we even think that we have the upper hand on the intruders that stole a bale or two from the wall we are so fund of. In fact we rush to fix, or replace it with something else, just because it gives us a feel of accomplishment.
This bale-bastion is the Ego, an entity within, a stranger separate from us and never completed. This is the part of our being that is fake, our creation, and completely insane, enveloped in chaos. It is selfish, demanding, cruel and knows no rules. Forces us to warship and love it unconditionally, rendering us vulnerable and defenceless. Yet we rely on it, and hand over control to solve our shortcomings with devastating results.
I know it is hard to relinquish something we built and cherished for years. The prospect of change is frightening. But consider this: is that hard to choose between sanity or madness? The answer is obvious. What we would part with is an illusion, and the gain is our real 'Self', the fortress we just forgot. It awaits us patiently, with open gates to welcome our battered soles, to heal our wounds, and lay us to bed for a well-deserved rest.
In our later years we realize that we shouldn't have left the fortress at all. It was just an unnecessary trip into unknown, the war was futile with lots of loss. Our ego sometimes granted us pathetic short term happiness, just to yank it away, and let us slide into even deeper pain and sorrow.
And still...heads up! As they say, better late than never! The hack with it, we can start right now!
Noteworthy Notes 