Athanasius, My respect for you only deepens with time. That post was a very powerful expression of life in itself and in what you achieved. I don't disagree at all with anyone or any aproach that transcends the enemy by the path of Higher Love. There is a saying, as above, so below. 'In a grain of sand the universe is revealed' What you call God others have also called the ground of being. Another saying, 'I have never known anyone in trouble who went straight ahead.'
You said, "One can say "love himself" or "love others". In the end, there probably isn't much difference. But I think focusing on others is the true way home. If I really try to love others, I will end up wrestling with my own personal demons soon enough."
My hope was that what in the dark is a demon is really maybe a feeling of worthlesness tied to an event from the past that already happened and is only terrifying and really powerful repressed and unconscious. In the light of day, perhaps first with rage and then with a floods of tears there can come a healing, a love and understanding and friendship for that demon. It is our deep truth and a source of both of our uniqueness and a bridge to sympathy for our fellow cross bearers. The way we handled it long ago was how we survived. That does not now any longer have to be.
I think that self knowledge can be an adjunct to any spiritual path. It is digging the tunnel (to freedom) from both ends.