A certain number of people seek power over other people in a

The words of Vernon Howard—“A certain number of people seek power over other people in a desperate attempt to find themselves. They fail, for self-discovery is spiritual in nature, not social or political. Authoritatively telling other people what to do is their distraction from an inner emptiness they can never fill.”—strike with the force of a moral thunderbolt. Here he unmasks the illusion of power, the false hope that dominance over others can soothe the ache of a restless soul. He reveals that what many call leadership or authority is, at its core, a hollow attempt to escape from one’s own inner emptiness.

The meaning of this teaching is that true self-discovery cannot be found in the manipulation or control of others. Those who cling to political or social power, imagining that it will grant them identity, are deceived. For no command shouted at another can silence the whisper of one’s own loneliness, and no throne built on obedience can fill the void of a spirit estranged from itself. Only the spiritual journey, the turning inward, leads to the peace and strength that seekers crave.

History offers countless examples of this truth. Consider the tale of Alexander the Great, who conquered vast lands and held millions under his command. Yet even he, at the height of worldly power, wept that there were no more worlds left to conquer. His dominion did not bring him rest; his hunger only grew, revealing that no amount of power could satisfy the deeper human longing for meaning. His greatness as a warrior could not cure the emptiness within, for the soul does not feed on conquest.

In contrast, look to the life of Gautama Buddha, a prince who renounced worldly power and privilege to pursue enlightenment. He discovered that only by letting go of dominion and seeking inward truth could he find liberation. His journey stands as the counterpoint to those who seek themselves in authority over others: self-discovery is spiritual, not political. The one who rules his own mind is greater than the one who commands armies, and the one who conquers desire has achieved a kingdom greater than any empire of men.

We may also recall more tragic examples: tyrants and dictators who rose to terrifying heights of authority but collapsed into paranoia, cruelty, and despair. Their authoritative telling of others what to do became an endless cycle of destruction, for the void inside them remained unhealed. Power became their addiction, distraction, and doom. In their lives, we see the clearest confirmation of Howard’s words: the quest for outer dominion without inner wholeness leads not to fulfillment, but to ruin.

The lesson, O seekers of truth, is that we must never confuse dominion over others with knowledge of ourselves. To shout orders may give the illusion of strength, but it is only silence within that reveals true mastery. To seek validation through fear or authority is to chase shadows, while the light of self-discovery shines only inward, through humility, reflection, and spiritual awakening.

Practically, this means cultivating practices that lead to inner fullness rather than outer control. Meditate, pray, reflect, and learn to govern your own impulses before you seek to govern others. Treat power not as a means of self-definition, but as a responsibility for service. And above all, remember that self-discovery is spiritual in nature—to know yourself, you must first step beyond the distractions of dominance and hear the voice of your own soul.

Thus let it be remembered: those who hunger for power over others are often the most lost, while those who seek to know themselves become the true pillars of humanity. Authority will crumble, wealth will fade, kingdoms will fall—but the spirit that has discovered its own essence stands unshaken. Seek that essence, and you will need no throne, for you will already reign over the only kingdom that matters: the kingdom within.