THE CONSEQUENCES OF EGO

Egoism is really a case of mistaken identity, like an actor, we pretend that we are someone who we are not, forgetting our true identity. THE CONSEQUENCES OF EGOISM The most important consequences of egoism is 'suffering'. Suffering depends upon how you react to what happens. "It is therefore distinct from pain." For instance, pain may occur when you trip and fall and bruise your body. Suffering involves the emotions like anger, embarrassment, and regret that follow. Due to egoism, you identify with such emotions, swear and lose your sense of equanimity and humor. Suffering throws you off balance. The ego can be thrown off balance. Who you truly are cannot. Who you truly are, maintains a sense of equanimity. It is therefore important to be vigilant, and notice the manifestations of the ego, before it unbalances and sweeps you away into negative feelings. These include; 1.PRIDE: This is a highly exaggerated opinion of oneself, frequently resulting in contempt for and ill treatment of others. One feels oneself to be somehow superior. It may manifest when one identifies with one's personal accomplishments, or with the accomplishments of a religion, a sports team, one's race, nationality, or whatever there is a thought of 'me' or 'us' versus 'them' pride hides the realization of our true self and makes us unable to see the underlying unity of everyone. Pride confines love. 2. GREED: Involves wanting more for yourself, rather than wanting the best for others. Greed is a practice of being self-centered with regard to everything; wanting the lion's share of everything whether it is financial wealth, food, sensual gratification, emotional gratification or spiritual gratification. One, who loves truly, is not greedy. 3. ANGER: These include all of those strong passionate feelings held towards something or someone, even oneself, when desires are frustrated. Anger itself is habit-farming. It must be rejected or re-directed. Anger always negatively affects the one who owns it most. The wise do not hold on to anger. Anger can always be re-directed into positive action to help correct a mistake. One who loves cannot hold on to anger. 4. ENVY: Envy, malice and jealousy: the bitterness on seeing others being happy or having something that one does not have. It also obscures the true inner source of joy. Bitterness restricts love so that one is not able to experience it even for oneself. 5. Desire: Imagining or fantasizing the pleasure to be derived from some object or circumstance or feeling aversion towards something, which we believe will cause us some pain or discomfort. They are fleeting, but prevent us from enjoying the present moment. Desire is a trap, for any desire will convince us that we should be "better off" if only we could satisfy that desire. It burns until it is satisfied: then there is a temporary suspension of the desire, until the next desire arises. The next time you feel desire for something, ask yourself: "Who desires?" Immediately you will turn toward your true self, and see things from its true perspective, that of the 'witness'. In truth, there is no one who desires: desires come, and then they go away. When you are satisfying a desire, again, watch yourself enjoying it. Cultivate the perspective of a detached loving observe... Remember! One who loves, desires noting. The wise see these manifestations of the ego as opportunities for self purification: letting go of what one is not, so that one can enjoy the inner source of well being and love. Those who have reached the pinnacle of human perfection or perfected one, did so because of a long process of ego purification. All genuine spiritual traditions emphasize this process. The sages said: "Listen to me, all of you, and try to understand! It is not what goes into a person from the outside that can defile: rather it's what comes out of the person that defiles." What comes out of the person is a manifestation of the ego, as described above. How to purify oneself? "The inner purity which sages and saints is emphasizing here, begins with discrimination against... thoughts, words and actions that defiles; judgment, greed, lust, anger, hatred and desire. All of these cause suffering for others and for the person harboring them. Words and actions are preceded by thoughts." So one must develop awareness of the negative mental tendencies and detach from then as soon as they begin to manifest within. Please remember! "When bound by negative thoughts, their opposites should be cultivated." This may be done, for example, by blessing others, rather than judging them, loving them, rather than hating them, repeating affirmations, auto-suggestions, and prayer. Too often we sink into worry and depression when invaded by negative thoughts. Worry and depression is meditating on what we do not want! "The wise, realizing that all manifestations begin in the mind." Cultivate best of thoughts and feelings though meditation in daily life. This entails cultivating a continuous of awareness with regards to all happenings. Awareness occurs when part of one's consciousness stands back and watches what the rest of the consciousness is engaged in. It does not do think; it watches thoughts coming and going. It does not do anything; it watches things happening. It does not feel. The witness is equal-minded loving compassion, which watches emotions arising and subsiding in the vital part of ones body. With a little practice, it becomes the foundational perspective of one's life, ensuring a state that is quite the opposite of "egoism and suffering." Being present, one is automatically aware, "and when one is aware," bliss arises. So "presence and love" replace "egoism and suffering". This is the promise of those who have successfully scaled the Mt. Everest of ordinary human nature, and arrived at the peak of 'Self-realization'. Egoism is a principle of nature by which consciousness becomes contracted around objects of experience. Every living creature experiences this contraction of consciousness primarily within the range of its senses. "The consciousness of the ordinary person, for example; is absorbed in physical sensations during childhood. As one matures, one becomes absorbed in mental and emotional movements; fantasies, fear and desires. Later, one gets caught up in thoughts; memories, ideas and problems. This contraction of consciousness around objects of experience, be they physical emotional, mental or intellectual, is due to egoism. It is not a personal defect. It is part of nature's design, which relates to the fundamental existential question: Why did the 'One' become 'Many'? And how can 'One' return to 'The state of Oneness?" According to the sages, beyond this ephemeral world of objective nature, there is a higher "causal plane" from which everything originates. "Suffering motivates everyone to go beyond the limited perspective of the ego, but with more or less wisdom." The unwise do so through distraction. The wise, perceiving the Reality beyond the surface, expand their consciousness through spiritual disciplines and secure unconditional unchallenged love in their hearts in order to purifying the ego based consciousness, and as a result, realize ever new joy in a state of Self-realization. From Empty Hands, A.Rahman bin Mahadi Labis, Johore Tel: 016-602 0321 14 August 2012 Next Topic: 1. "Diri Kita Adalah Diri Kita, Bukannya Orang Lain" 2. "The Mind Works Better When It Is Fully Open Like A Parachute"