Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 2.7
intermediate
न वा अरे ब्रह्मणः कामाय ब्रह्म प्रियं भवति। आत्मनस्तु कामाय ब्रह्म प्रियं भवति। न वा अरे क्षत्रस्य कामाय क्षत्रं प्रियं भवति। आत्मनस्तु कामाय क्षत्रं प्रियं भवति। न वा अरे लोकानां कामाय लोकाः प्रियाः भवन्ति। आत्मनस्तु कामाय लोकाः प्रियाः भवन्ति॥
na vā are brahmaṇaḥ kāmāya brahma priyaṃ bhavati | ātmanastu kāmāya brahma priyaṃ bhavati | na vā are kṣatrasya kāmāya kṣatraṃ priyaṃ bhavati | ātmanastu kāmāya kṣatraṃ priyaṃ bhavati | na vā are lokānāṃ kāmāya lokāḥ priyāḥ bhavanti | ātmanastu kāmāya lokāḥ priyāḥ bhavanti ||
""Not for the sake of brahminhood is brahminhood dear, but for the Self. Not for the sake of power is power dear, but for the Self. Not for the sake of worlds are worlds dear, but for the Self.""
What This Means:
Status (brahminhood), power, even heavenly worlds - all are loved for the Self's sake, not their own.
Going Deeper:
Even spiritual and cosmic attainments are desired for the Self. The Self is the ultimate value behind all values.
How To Apply This:
Even your spiritual aspirations are for the Self. Know the Self directly.
#status#power#worlds#Self-love