self-renunciation
/'selfri,nʌnsi'eiʃn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
A monk practices self-renunciation by sharing his only bowl of rice with a hungry child.
Definition
Noun: 1. The act or practice of renouncing or sacrificing one's own interests, desires, or personal advantages for the sake of others or for a higher principle. It involves a conscious decision to prioritize the needs, well-being, or values of others over one's own.
Usage and Examples
- The monk's life of self-renunciation was dedicated to prayer and service, devoid of personal possessions.
- Her career was marked by a profound self-renunciation, as she consistently put her family's needs ahead of her own professional ambitions.
- The philosophy teaches that true happiness is found not in accumulation, but in self-renunciation and compassion.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- Ethical and Religious Context: The term is often used in discussions of morality, asceticism, and spiritual disciplines, where the renunciation of the self is seen as a path to virtue, enlightenment, or union with the divine.
- The concept of self-renunciation is central to many ascetic traditions.
- Psychological Perspective: It can be analyzed as a form of altruism or self-sacrifice, which may be motivated by love, duty, or a deep-seated value system.
- His actions, while admirable, raised questions about the psychological costs of extreme self-renunciation.
Variants and Related Words
- Self-abnegation (noun): A very close synonym, often used interchangeably, emphasizing the denial or rejection of oneself.
- Self-denial (noun): A broader term for refusing oneself pleasures or comforts; self-renunciation often implies a more complete or principled sacrifice.
- Renunciation (noun): The general act of formally rejecting or giving something up. Self-renunciation specifies is being renounced.
- Altruism (noun): The principle or practice of concern for the welfare of others. Self-renunciation is a specific behavioral manifestation of altruism.
Synonyms
- Self-sacrifice
- Self-abnegation
- Selflessness
- Abnegation
- Altruism (in its behavioral sense)
Antonyms
- Selfishness
- Egoism
- Self-indulgence
- Self-absorption
- Narcissism
Related Idioms and Phrases
- To deny oneself: A simpler phrase conveying a similar, though often less extreme, idea of going without something for a reason.
- She denied herself luxuries to save money for her children's education.
- To set aside one's own interests: A descriptive phrase that captures the core action of self-renunciation.
- For the good of the team, he set aside his own interests.
A monk practices self-renunciation by sharing his only bowl of rice with a hungry child.
Noun
- renunciation of your own interests in favor of the interests of others