Text of the meditation
The overcoming of self is the annihilation of all the sorrow-producing elements. The doctrine of the overcoming or annihilation of self is simplicity itself; indeed, so simple, practical and close at hand is it that a child of five, whose mind has not yet become clouded with theories, theological schemes and speculative philosophies, would be far more likely to comprehend it than many older people who have lost their hold on simple and beautiful truths by adopting complicated theories.
The annihilation of self consists in weeding out and destroying all those elements in the soul that lead to division, strife, suffering, disease and sorrow. It does not mean the destruction of any good and beautiful and peace-producing quality. The overcoming of self is the cultivation of all the divine qualities.
James Allen (1864–1912), Book of Meditations for Every Day in the Year (1913) – public-domain text, gently modernised.
The original 1913 text is in the public domain.