Ramana Maharshi

It matters little whether external activities go on or not.

If you let the ego go, you will achieve real self-reliance.

Your pride was merely the pride of the ego.

So long as you identify yourself with the ego, you will perceive others as individuals too.

And then there will be room for pride.

Let that drop.

And you will drop others' egos too.

leaving no more room for pride.

So long as there is a sense of separation, one will be afflicted by thoughts.

If the original source is regained and the sense of separation is ended, there will be peace

Look at the waters of the ocean.

They evaporate, form clouds, which are blown about by winds.

condense into water and fall as rain.

The waters roll down the hilltops in streams and rivers until they reach their original source, the ocean, at which point they are at peace.

Thus you will see that where there is a sense of separation from the source, there is agitation and movement.

Until the sense of separation is lost,

So it is with yourself.

Now you identify yourself with your body and think that you are separate.

You must regain your source before this false identification can cease.

and you can be happy.