Rabindranath Tagore on the Highest Self: Wisdom for Spiritual Growth & Inner Peace

RABINDRANATH TAGORE on the HIGHEST SELF

I set out alone on my journey, but who’s this version of me lurking in the dark? I try to step away from him, but I can’t escape. He kicks up dust with his swagger and adds his loud voice to everything I say. He’s my ego — shameless and bold. And yet, I feel embarrassed to stand before you with him by my side. —RABINDRANATH TAGORE (1861-1941)

Rabindranath Tagore was a poet, writer, artist, and thinker who greatly impacted literature and education. Thanks to his beautiful and thought-provoking poetry, he became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.

Tagore wasn’t just a writer—he was a visionary. He founded Visva-Bharati University, a school that combined the best of Eastern and Western learning.

He wrote about nature, feelings, and the idea that everyone in the world is connected, like one big family.

You’ve probably heard his words without realizing it—he wrote Jana Gana Mana, India’s national anthem! His legacy lives on as a poet who believed in creativity, education, and unity.

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Tagore believes that deep down, people are always seeking something greater than themselves, something that is also their truest essence.

He explains that this pursuit is so meaningful that they’re willing to make sacrifices for it, and those sacrifices often become their own reward.

In Tagore’s view, this is a person’s true purpose, their faith, and what fulfills their soul.

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Here are some simple ways to bring Tagore’s wisdom into your life today:

• Before reacting to someone, pause and listen to your heart. Notice if your ego is jumping in, then gently set it aside. So, try doing this once or twice a day until it feels natural.
• Pay attention to how often you say “I” in conversations. Can you start with “you” instead sometimes? If you shift that focus to others, it will absolutely change the way you connect.

If you shift your focus from yourself to others, it will completely transform the way you connect with people and experience the world around you.

Letting go of material things, past grudges, or even outdated beliefs, can help you feel incredibly freeing. 

It doesn’t mean you have to part ways with everything all at once, just start small and notice how it feels. 

Each time you release something that no longer serves you, you create more space for growth and connection. 

This simple shift allows you to live more lightly, making room for joy, clarity, and a deeper sense of purpose. Life becomes less about what you hold onto and more about what you’re free to embrace.