cannot detoxify themselves.
Could you express in more detail the characteristics of each of those
three manifestations of egoism that you have named vanity, pride and
arrogance?
Yes. We can distinguish at least three forms of egoism, which range
from the most gross to the most subtle, vanity, pride and arrogance. In
everyday speech we frequently use these three words, but as we will
see, their spiritual meaning is much broader and deeper and differs in
many aspects from the meaning that we commonly give them. We will
go on to define them one by one and analyse their manifestations.
What is vanity and what are its manifestations?
Vanity is the most primitive form of egoism. It is typical of the youngest
spirits, of spirits that having been able to advance considerably in
intelligence, are still beginners in the recognition of feelings. The main
characteristic of vain spirits is that they are very wrapped up in
themselves, particularly in satisfying their most primitive needs and
desires, and scarcely or not at all worried about the needs of other
beings, so that they go to extremes in the practice of their free will, not
being conscious that on many occasions they invade the free will of
others. The vain seek to be the centre, so that others look at them.
Through scarcely knowing love, they do not distinguish well between
true love and indulgence. They need and desire more than they love.
For this reason, in their relationships, they tend to seek more fame,
admiration, praise, to be fulfilled and satisfied in their desires, rather
than to be loved and to love. The vain continually make comparisons
between themselves and others, always trying to appear superior to
them. They frequently mock and belittle those whom they consider to
be beneath them in aptitudes or in materialistic terms, and praise in
excess those whom they believe they can use in order to obtain
something for themselves. They tend to act unfairly, always favouring
their interests. For this reason they frequently falsify the truth in order to
conceal their egoistic acts. They often feel dissatisfied with themselves
due to the little feeling that they impart and for this reason they flee in
terror from solitude. They greatly need other people, whom they tend
to manipulate and absorb in order to satisfy, not only their needs, but
also their fancies and their whims, to the point of physically or
psychologically enslaving the people who surround them. But they also
quickly tire of relationships if these do not give them the desired
satisfaction. For this reason, they are people who frequently absorb
and manipulate the most defenceless members of their family such as
their partner or children, and in their work relations, their subordinates,