Self-Denial

In Mark 8:34 and parallels Jesus challenges his disciples to "e;deny themselves."e; The concept of "e;denying the self"e; seems to be unique to Jesus, for this saying is never quoted or referred to in the New Testament outside the Gospels. What did Jesus mean? What is the "e;self"e; or the aspects of the self that must be denied? What would such a denial entail? Can we find similar concepts in Pau...