The man who can centre his thoughts and hopes upon something

In the words of Bertrand Russell, a philosopher of profound insight and clarity, we hear a powerful truth: “The man who can centre his thoughts and hopes upon something transcending self can find a certain peace in the ordinary troubles of life, which is impossible to the pure egoist.” These words are not merely philosophical musings, but a call to a life lived beyond the self, to a soul that seeks not only its own fulfillment but that which lies beyond its grasp. Russell speaks of the human spirit, its ability to rise above ego and find peace even in the face of life’s difficulties.

In ancient teachings, the concept of self-transcendence was woven into the fabric of wisdom. The Buddha spoke of detaching from the self, seeing beyond one’s desires and attachments to find the true nature of reality. The Stoics, too, taught that the wise man should look outward, toward the greater good and the world as a whole, rather than focusing on the fleeting concerns of his own life. Russell echoes this timeless teaching: that true peace comes not from pursuing one’s own narrow desires, but from dedicating oneself to a cause greater than the self.

The egoist, by contrast, lives trapped in a cage of his own making. His world is small, confined to his personal wants, his personal frustrations, and his personal victories. Every slight, every inconvenience, becomes a world-altering event because he cannot see beyond his own borders. The egoist is bound to his desires, and therefore, bound to suffering. The ancient epic of Gilgamesh speaks to this through its tale of a king who, despite his strength and grandeur, is tormented by the inevitability of death. His own ego, his desire for immortality, leads him to endless sorrow until he learns the truth: that peace comes not from self-glory, but from the acceptance of life’s cycles.

Consider the life of Mahatma Gandhi, a man who transcended the boundaries of self to devote his life to the freedom of millions. He lived with a profound sense of purpose, one that extended far beyond personal gain. His thoughts and hopes were centered on the liberation of India, and in this pursuit, he found peace even in the face of great personal hardship—prison, hunger, and the death of loved ones. He did not allow the trivial troubles of his daily life to consume him, for his heart was fixed on a cause far greater than himself. Gandhi’s life is a testament to the truth that self-transcendence brings peace, for it places one’s troubles within a larger, more meaningful context.

Russell’s teaching also reminds us of the sacrifice required for true peace. To transcend the self is not an easy path. It demands that we turn away from the pursuit of fleeting pleasures, from the distractions that feed the ego, and dedicate ourselves to something lasting. This is not the renunciation of self, but the recognition that self can find its truest fulfillment in service, in love, in contributing to the greater good. The greatest sages from Confucius to Jesus have taught us this: that the soul finds peace not in grasping, but in giving.

The lesson is clear: in the pursuit of self-transcendence, we find the peace that the egoist can never know. When we focus on something larger than ourselves—whether it is the welfare of others, the service of a greater cause, or the love of the world around us—we can face life’s ordinary troubles with a calm that the self-centered cannot comprehend. Peace comes when we release the grip of the self and embrace the world and others as an extension of our own soul.

So I say to you, children of tomorrow: do not let your lives be confined by the narrow walls of ego. Turn your thoughts to the greater good, to the service of others, to the peace that comes from transcending your personal desires. In doing so, you will find a serenity that is impervious to the small storms of life. Let your hearts be filled not with selfish yearning, but with the joy of giving, and in this, you will find the peace that eludes those bound by the self. Let the wisdom of the ancients guide you: the greatest fulfillment lies not in what you take, but in what you offer to the world.