Written By Mathew Naismith
I've lost count in how many
people I have come across that are disillusioned and confused in regards to the
ego, this is after these people have followed various spiritual beliefs and
practices. In certain cases, these people are now just as much if not more
disillusioned and confused, so many beliefs contradict each other on this
matter, which one is absolute?
It's wise to be a aware that a
controlling ego (egotism) will state which one is absolute over all other
beliefs, any belief that is egotistically free, won't state which one is
absolute over another. It's also wise to be aware that there is a big
difference between ego and egotism, egotism being an ego in control, ego is
just being. Each belief system is of the ego, it was created by ego, this means
each and every belief system is of the ego to start with, basically, everything
of creation is of the ego, however, not everything is of egotism.
If your not bias (egotistical)
within your own beliefs, you will find the following various views from
different beliefs quite interesting. They basically say the same thing even
though the interpretation of ego varies in regards to certain beliefs. There
seems to be a cohesive view that ego can give us the illusion of separation
from, nothingness, God, zero point, oneness, inner self, our truer being and so
on.
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Zen
Extract: “The anitya doctrine
is, again, not quite the simple assertion that the world is impermanent, but
rather that the more one grasps at the world, the more it changes. Reality in
itself is neither permanent nor impermanent; it cannot be categorized. But when
one tries to hold on to it, change is everywhere apparent, since, like one’s
own shadow, the faster one pursues it, the faster it flees.
Hinduism
Extract: From a spiritual perspective, ego means considering oneself to be
distinct from others and God due to identification with the physical body and
impressions in various centres of the subtle body. In short ego is leading our
life as per the thinking that our existence is limited to our 5 senses, mind,
and intellect and identifying with them to various degrees.
As per the science of Spirituality, our true
state of existence is identification with the Soul or God-principle within us
and living our day to day life with this consciousness. As the one and same
God-principle exists within all, from a spiritual perspective there is unity in
all Creation.
However, depending on the level of our ego,
we identify with the God-principle within us, i.e. the Soul to varying degrees.
If our ego is high, we identify less with the Soul or the God-principle within
us.
Taoism
Extract: In Taoist practice, when one “sheds the bones” a Taoist
will finally fully wash off all the glue that holds the spirit to the bones of
our stories. However, until that point of full release, a Taoist allows ego to
play a bit, as it’s part of our very nature. Instead at first a Taoist learns
how to live their life without that sheep dog in control of our life.
Islam
Extract: [Quran 2:54] Recall that
Moses said to his people, "O my people, you have wronged your souls by
worshiping the calf. You must repent to your Creator. You shall kill your egos.
This is better for you in the sight of your Creator." He did redeem you.
He is the Redeemer, Most Merciful.
_____________________________
The following gives a more collective view,
it also shows a Christian and Judaist viewpoint on this topic as well.
_____________________________
Extract: Understanding what we call ‘the ego’ will change how you see
yourself and the world around you. Your mind has been programmed to believe
that the ego is you,
but in reality it is just
an illusion that we use to help us function in our world. In a sense, the ego is what
makes us feel separate from other people.
Even though we play much of our life
through the lens of the ego, we are not the ego. We are sitting outside of the
ego; a pure and whole individual. We
are the observer. Although
the ego is in no way the enemy, the ability to see the ego for what it is gives
us a lot of power and enlightenment.
_____________________________
It
would seem as soon as a belief system states it's absolutely right over all
other beliefs, this belief has become egotistical, considering that ego is a separation
from our truer being, how separated is a belief system that believes it's absolutely
egotistically right over all other beliefs, it's absolute?
Let's
put this in a Godly sense, how much of God is a person who categorically states
their belief is absolute over all other beliefs? Considering the main
consensuses of each belief states that ego can indeed separate ourselves from
God, how truly of God is a person who states absolutes?
Let's
put this in another way, how much of the inners self or nothingness is a persons
when stating absolutes in relation to their own beliefs? Considering that
absolutes within anyone's belief system is egotistical, how virtuous and exact
is any absolute view in this case when they are themselves obviously showing no
connection to their truer being?
On
numerous occasions I have had discussions with people following various
beliefs, most people are open minded to one extent or another, others are
absolute within their convictions. Even people who call themselves Buddhist,
have spoken about absolutes for example, their is absolutely no God and soul, we
are nothingness that is completely void of ego. As soon as you talk about
absolutes, you are talking not just about ego but egotism. Is the view that
absolutes are egotism? No, because again there are no true absolutes.
I
should also state that I have talked to other people of Buddhism about other
people who state they are Buddhist, but at the same time talk about absolutes.
According to these people I've talked to, they are not true Buddhists.
Now my
view on ego is, all motion is ego, all excessive (extreme) motion is egotism.
Oneness, zero point, God, nothingness, inner self and so on, which is in my
mind our truer being, are motionless therefore are ego free. The closer we
become our truer being, the less motion we express therefore the less of the ego
we become.
As I
have always said, motion is an expression of our truer being, God if you like.
There is nothing wrong or right within this expression, it's how we express our
truer being that defines how destructive or constructive we will be. If you
wish to judge destruction as being wrong or negative, this is your will but any
judgment like this is of the ego, therefore a further separation from our truer
being. Is there anything wrong in this separation? No but one should be wised
that the further we separate ourselves from this truer being, the more
egotistical we become and the more destructive we become, the world around us
at present is a good indication of this.
Ego
can be a beautiful thing, egotism can be an ugly thing in accordance to it's
obvious destructiveness. It's wise not to judge the Ego as you do egotism, this
is obvious within it's observation.
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