He moves in a different world of thought from that of the persons--and they are many--who are incapable of response to higher promptings, and he knows it. Therefore he must keep some part of his day--however small--for himself, some place where he can be by himself. Much nonsense is talked or preached in religious circles about "love," "community," and so on. It evaporates when the truth about it is sought. A man can start to give love when he has it to give, but he can give nothing when he has none of it. The ordinary man lives very much in his ego and can only give his egotism. If he seems to give love, there is an egoistic thought or motive behind it. The aspirant who immerses himself in somebody else's ego may make the latter feel happier but both are wallowing in the same element. Real service, real charity in the world are admirable things but rarely pure. The daily retreat from the world, if for higher purposes, may in the end be better for others, too. If a man uses these periods to get away from all other influences and seek only the divine presence, he may in time have something of it, even if only atmosphere, to bring others. His enjoyment of that presence cannot help but put really sincere goodwill into his attitude to them. The sharing of what he feels becomes a natural activity. This is love in a deeper more enduring sense, and more productive, too.
-- Notebooks Category 3: Relax and Retreat > Chapter 1 : Take Intermittent Pauses > # 113
