With every effort of will toward purification and unity with that `Self-god,' one of the lower rays breaks and the spiritual entity of man is drawn higher and ever higher to the ray that supercedes the first, until, from ray to ray, the inner man is drawn into the one and highest beam of the Parent-Sun. H.P. Blavatsky, Secret Doctrine I-639.

Unless the higher Self or EGO gravitates toward its Sun-the Monad, the lower Ego or personal Self will have the upper hand in every case. H.P. Blavatsky, Secret Doctrine II-110.

The first necessity for obtaining Self-knowledge is to become profoundly conscious of ignorance; to feel with every fibre of the heart that one is ceaselessly self-deceived. The second requisite is the still deeper conviction that such knowledge - such intuitive and certain knowledge - can be obtained by effort. The third and most important is an indomitable determination to obtain and face that knowledge. Self-knowledge of this kind is unattainable by what men usually call 'self-analysis.' It is not reached by reasoning or any brain process; for it is the awakening to consciousness of the Divine nature of man. To obtain this knowledge is a greater achievement than to command the elements or to know the future. H.P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Vol. 1, No. 2; Oct. 15, 1887

Occultism is concerned with the inner man, who must be strengthened and freed from the dominion of the physical body and its surroundings, which must become its servants. Hence the first and chief necessity of Chelaship is a spirit of absolute unselfishness and devotion to Truth; then follow self-knowledge and self-mastery. H.P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Vol. 4, No. 22; June 15, 1889.

To reach Nirvana one must reach Self-Knowledge, and Self-Knowledge is of loving deeds the child. H.P. Blavatsky, Voice of the Silence

It is not "the fear of God" which is "the beginning of wisdom", but the knowledge of Self which is wisdom itself. H.P. Blavatsky, Lucifer Vol. 2, No. 8; April 15, 1888