are capable of loving and being egoistic at the same time? Could you
not clarify this point for me?
Yes, of course. Imagine that the human being is like an onion, at the
heart of which is the spirit which emits light, which is love. This central
light transmitter is covered by multiple layers, in such a way that each
one of these layers obstructs the passage of the light a little, until the
sum of all the layers together almost totally prevents the light from
shining out to the exterior. Each one of these layers represents a
manifestation of the egoism that should be progressively eliminated, so
that finally the light, love, shines and is expressed in all its magnitude. As
we eliminate layers, the light (love) from the interior finds fewer
obstacles to shining outwards to the exterior. The outer layers
correspond to the most primitive and superficial egoism. They are the
layers corresponding to vanity. The intermediate layers would
correspond to pride and the innermost layers arrogance.
Everyone finds themselves at a different point in this process. The
majority of spirits that inhabit the Earth have succeeded in shedding
only some of the first layers. Others have succeeded in eliminating
some of the intermediate layers as well and a few are in the process of
eliminating the deepest layers of egoism. Although this process is
progressive and there are spirits at all levels, we can try to classify spirits
into three large groups, according to the level of elimination of layers
in which they are: kind-vain, generous-proud, and loving-arrogant
spirit.
Why do you classify them with two adjectives, one positive and the
other negative?
Because I don't want only the egoistic part of the spirit to be
manifested in the classification, but rather to also recognise the
qualities that the spirit can develop at each stage. The first adjective
expresses the quality representative of that which spirits can reach
when they make an effort to develop love and the second is the level
of egoism in which they find themselves. Vain people can be very kind,
proud people can be very generous and arrogant people can be very
loving when all of them are willing to conquer their egoism and fight
for their feelings. However there is nothing negative in admitting the
existence of egoism in each one of us and defining it, in order to
acknowledge it and be able to overcome it. The negative part for the
spirit would be not wanting to recognise its existence, not admitting
the reality that we all have an egoistic part which we must eliminate in
order to be able to truly love and be genuinely happy. Not recognising
this leads to spiritual stagnation because you cannot overcome what
you do not admit, just as alcoholics who do not admit their addiction