The Varieties of Religious Experience - Penn State University

William James“For the common people are what we help them to become; theirvices are our vices, gazed upon, envied, and imitated; and if theycome back with all their weight upon us, it is but just.2. A sense of the friendly continuity of the ideal power with ourown life, and a willing self-surrender to its control.3. An immense elation and freedom, as the outlines of the confiningselfhood melt down.4. A shifting of the emotional centre towards loving and harmoniousaffections, towards “yes, yes,” and away from “no,” where theclaims of the non-ego are concerned. These fundamental inner conditionshave characteristic practical consequences, as follows:—a. Asceticism.—The self-surrender may become so passionate as toturn into self-immolation. It may then so over-rule the ordinaryinhibitions of the flesh that the saint finds positive pleasure in sacrificeand asceticism, measuring and expressing as they do the degreeof his loyalty to the higher power.b. Strength of Soul.—The sense of enlargement of life may be souplifting that personal motives and inhibitions, commonly omnipotent,become too insignificant for notice, and new reaches of patienceand fortitude open out. Fears and anxieties go, and blissfulequanimity takes their place. Come heaven, come hell, it makes nodifference now!“We forbid ourselves all seeking after popularity, all ambition toappear important. We pledge ourselves to abstain from falsehood,plications of our wants; on all that excites envy and dislike in the soul ofthe common people, and confirms the notion that the chief end of life isfreedom to enjoy. We would preach by our example the respect of superiorsand equals, the respect of all men; affectionate simplicity in our relationswith inferiors and insignificant persons; indulgence where our ownclaims only are concerned, but firmness in our demands where they relateto duties towards others or towards the public.247