Knowing Yourself.....in earnest

[Margan]

In doing metaphysical work you need to find your center. You need to find what you are living for and what you would die for.

We read this whole passage recently in my study group. The bolded above is the only part I don't line up with. I free this sort of perspective tends toward the martyrdom Ra speaks of. (Oh dear, I've ended two sentences with a preposition. .)

It could lead the practitioner to martyrdom I suppose. I think that in finding that for which one would die, Carla was encouraging the instrument to find that key value, that which was the utmost importance to the self. It is not to say necessarily that one wants to die for any particular purpose, or that one will seek out such end, just that, when push comes to shove, what principle is so important to the self that, rather than betray or compromise this core value, central as it is to the integrity of self, one would release the incarnation. Death for something is the ultimate declaration in our third-density situation of that which is most important to us.

Yes I see it as Steppingfeet so aptly described, I think in order to get the best results in metaphysical work it should be the most important thing in one's life.
You have to want it more than anything else, to find your true self or what is commonly termed as "enlightenment".... get rid of all the other desires and focus solely on that.
I would not see it as martyrdom, rather as an "insanely intense focus", to the point that all else is secondary

Here is a Zen story, that describes what I mean:

"A hermit was meditating by a river when a young man interrupted him. "Master, I wish to become your disciple," said the man. "Why?" replied the hermit. The young man thought for a moment. "Because I want to find God."

The master jumped up, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, dragged him into the river, and plunged his head under water. After holding him there for a minute, with him kicking and struggling to free himself, the master finally pulled him up out of the river. The young man coughed up water and gasped to get his breath. When he eventually quieted down, the master spoke. "Tell me, what did you want most of all when you were under water."

"Air!" answered the man.

"Very well," said the master. "Go home and come back to me when you want God as much as you just wanted air."