All our actions must be subject to self-reflection. The only question is what yardstick we use to evaluate our actions.
The citizen of our society in his „normal“ state of consciousness, brought up as a materialist, draws on the innumerable social norms and values currently in force and covering a multitude of areas in order to classify his behavior as desirable or in need of sanction. These norms and values, which he accepts as a standard, change over time and differ from place to place. They are man-made and only enable people to place themselves in relation to the majority opinion that is currently valid in their group. Be it in parts still so questionable. This kind of self-reflection serves to define oneself as part of a group and to be able to assert one’s place in it. It ultimately serves to avoid pain, depending on when one finds oneself where. This is self-reflection on the level of pain; it is measuring against external circumstances. It is unsteady and anxious running behind the opinions of the majority that is setting the tone at the moment.
For man, whose gaze is directed to the Divine, the only measure of his actions is whether or not his action has taken place in the cosmic state of consciousness. And if he finds that it has not, then he asks himself what mechanism caused him at the moment of action to pass from the state of consciousness of security to that of pain. From this he learns and each time he consolidates his cosmic existence a little more. This is universal self-reflection, which enables us an existence in love and security.