The Limited Ego

This was the daily quote from the Avatar Meher Baba Bombay Centre:

(Jan. 1939) . . . Dr. Deshmukh arrived from Nagpur to see Baba in Jabalpur. His mind was quite troubled and he told Baba that people were asking him why Baba was calling himself “God.” They were saying, “Isn’t this the expression of his ego? Isn’t he a supreme egotist?” Deshmukh did not know how to answer them. To pacify Deshmukh, Baba gave this explanation:

In all that a God-Realized soul or an ordinary man says or does, the “I” in him asserts itself. The difference between the two is that the “I” in the ordinary man is limited, whereas in the God-Realized being it is unlimited. If Deshmukh says, “I have written the book,” it is the limited “I” in Deshmukh asserting a certain job he has done. But when I say, “I am God,” it is the unlimited “I” asserting its universal aspect.

The limited “I” must go for the unlimited “I” to take its place. The limited “I” is like a seven-headed demon. The seven heads of lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, jealousy and hatred must be killed so thoroughly that not even the slightest trace remains. When the false “I” is completely destroyed, another “I,” which is Real and Unlimited, takes its place.

 Lord Meher, Original Publication, Bhau Kalchuri, Vol.7, p. 2354. 

I put the final paragraph to Gemini with the following prompt:

Imagine the following quote as an image that encapsulates the essential message in the text. Harte is the text: “ The limited “I” must go for the unlimited “I” to take its place. The limited “I” is like a seven-headed demon. The seven heads of lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, jealousy and hatred must be killed so thoroughly that not even the slightest trace remains. When the false “I” is completely destroyed, another “I,” which is Real and Unlimited, takes its place.” 

Figure 1 shows its Gemini's response:

Figure 1

Here was Gemini's thinking leading to its creation:

Dissecting Key Elements

I'm now focusing on deconstructing the quote to isolate the critical components. I've pinpointed the key elements: a "limited 'I'," represented as a seven-headed demon, the "Real and Unlimited 'I'," and the core process of destruction and transition. The goal is to visually represent this dynamic.

Defining Visual Representation

I'm now progressing toward the creation of a visual representation. I've broken down the central quote to clarify its key elements. I'm focusing on the "limited 'I'," the "Real and Unlimited 'I'," and the process of change. I'm developing imagery of a seven-headed figure and a glowing orb.

Considering Symbolic Visuals

I'm currently focused on the symbolic representation within the generated content. The aim is to ensure the visual elements effectively convey the intended meaning, specifically the contrast between limitation and boundlessness. The core concern is the accurate depiction of this transition.

Refining Symbolic Depiction

I'm now zeroing in on the visual metaphors used to communicate the core concept. The central focus is on refining how the images depict the shift from constraint to freedom. I will emphasize the relationship between the visual elements to ensure clarity, as this is critical to the image's effectiveness.