More About The Ego
Some people have asked for clarification about the Ego. Here’s something that hopefully, might make it clearer and more understandable.
Imagine that long ago two countries went to war.
One was filled with excitement at the glory of victory, anticipating the spoils of victory, the access to new technologies and knowledge. They were eager to conquer the other and anticipating doubling the size of their proud nation.
They surround the enemy and set up to lay siege and eventually conquer the nations castle.
The defending country, meanwhile has been battening down their hatches. It’s Generals are rushing about making sure every possible part is protected. Orders are urgently barked and everyone is rushing to protect their homes and country. All are fearful and anxiously awaiting the impending attack. Each thinks of his or her loved ones and hopes they will get through unscathed and see off the Intruding army.
The Attacker has all to gain. The Defender can at best limit the damage.
This is the difference between the Ego and the Higher Self. The war analogy is not the best way to understand the Higher Self. While it is a great Explorer and Adventurer, it does not seek war or harm any other. However it is exactly the analogy that the Ego experiences.
The feeling of persecution and impending destruction. There is no upside to the Ego. Therefore Egoic thoughts are inherently negative.
Nothing originates from the Ego. You may want love or fame. These are ideas that in their pure and original form came from your Higher Self. However the Ego is the original hijacker. It then jumps on and diverts your original intent and distorts it a form that becomes tainted and sordid.
Hi Rob – just catching up on emails!
What I still don’t get is why Ego exists. Why place a purely negative force in a world. Most (if not all) other negative motivations are extremes of positves – e.g. gluttony is an extreme of a desire to eat. I would say that we can see negative behaviours as extremes of positve ones but not purely negative in their own right.
If Ego is purely negative – it would seem to be unique?
Or if it is the extreme of a ‘positive’ – what ‘positive’?
Good point.
This sums up the way I see the Ego differently from the way most people look at it.
The Ego wasn’t injected into the world or learned from the world.
The Ego is the conflict with the force of life that caused the creation of this world. The basis of the Ego, and the world, is the exploration of the idea of independence, self-interest and isolation.
Gluttony, for example, is the desire to eat excessively because of the Egoic idea of scarcity and self-interest. It’s due to the fear that if you don’t grab it now, it won’t be there tomorrow.