On Loving Oneself

Several days ago, I posted a quote from Thich Nhat Hanh. He said, “To love is, first of all, to accept ourselves as we are.”

I commented that this is not the teaching of the mainstream religions. The mainstream religions tend to teach that we are ugly or sinful as we are. Thus, we should be ashamed of ourselves and reject ourselves. The most obvious example of this self-loathing aspect can be found in the writings of Saint Paul. Paul saw within himself a constant war between the spirit and the flesh. He wrote in Romans 7: 13–18:

13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.

This is a case of extreme dualism. Paul saw himself as helpless, always losing his war with sin. He felt split between flesh (sarx) and spirit. That is why he declared himself to be a “wretched man.”