Be Kind to Your Poor Ego...It isn't Easy Being the Center of the Universe, You Know

Heh. Good question. I'll try to answer it, as far as I currently understand the answer to be. =) No expert, though...still many issues of overly finite associating 'round here. ^_~

Cannot emphasize enough: When in doubt, look within and find your own answers. Only you know what is true for you.

Also: This is all just from my perspective. If I misrepresent anyone's understanding, I apologize.

First, I suppose, a working definition of Ego would be helpful, to avoid further confusion. There are quite a few definitions -- and even more implicit understandings -- of the word. For me, at this point, it means my own personality, and the identification with this body and mind, alone, as 'me'.

Just as Kuntak points out, this personality is nothing but an idea in the mind. What I refer to as a meme. Over our lives, we can see this 'idea' evolve and change.

I know for certain that my personality bears little resemblance to what it was even five years ago, for example.

This is the first clue as to the illusory nature of the idea, and hence the fallacy of identifying solely with it. So, just as Sanjay's quote implores, it is very helpful to 'conquer' this limited identification. To see through the illusion, and understand that you are not your personality, you are that which perceives that personality -- Consciousness itself, if you will.

When one begins to really delve into that Consciousness, one finds the same Consciousness looking back from everything.

It is, at this point, that one begins to understand that one is not limited to this finite being, though that is a part of what one is -- rather, one is actually All, and All is One. To be kind to others is to bring joy to yourself. To inflict harm on another is to, ultimately, do nothing but hurt your own being.

From my own personal experience with this process, however, I have found that (at least once one truly begins to grok this) the best way to 'conquer' this limited identification is to actually just relax and "let it be", as our good friends the Beatles so nicely put it. To understand that it serves a purpose, and so to let it fulfill that purpose.

Keep the understanding of illusion at the back of your mind, rest in a place of unity and compassion...but let yourself be itself. Hence, the blog. =)

The more this happens, for me (and as long as I do it resting in a place of common identity and compassionate embrace), the less I worry about this one finite being. The less I do that, the more my 'higher motivations' begin to shine through, and the more I can act upon them -- because I am not wasting energy at war within. The illusion fades on its own, over time -- because that is the nature of illusion, unless it is reinforced in some way.

Attempting to 'conquer the Ego', in the old paradigm sense of 'beating it', has, for me, ultimately only served to reinforce that Ego.

So my shit's just lettin' it go, and throwing my hands up in the air to better enjoy the rollercoaster ride. ^_^

Hope this helps.

"You must *be* the change you wish to see in the world."
Mahatma Gandhi

Hmmm...well, you'd have to understand what I, personally, mean by 'higher', first off.

For me, something is 'higher' when it is more inclusive. The more of the Universe embraced within the matrix of something -- whether it be an idea, organism, piece of machinery, whatever -- the 'higher' I consider that thing. Hence my stance on compassion -- embracing all with love is about the most inclusive thing I can think to do.

But it also includes including exclusion, to a degree. Change, differentiation, are a part of the world, and any truly inclusive ideology accepts this as well. Whether or not persons who make impolite or 'mean' comments are motivated by their 'higher intentions' (which, by my definition, seems unlikely in most cases), still it is 'higher' to allow a place for them to explore that side of themselves...within reason, of course. I believe in rules as well.

Or, more accurately, organizing principles. Any thing that wishes to be a part of something must follow certain behavioral guidelines in order to do so in a healthy manner. If it doesn't wish to follow those guidelines, then it is free to go elsewhere and find something more akin to its own nature to be a part of.

So, if you were driven to take drugs in order to expand your consciousness and learn to love yourself and others, then I would say it was your higher motivations bringing you to do so. If you were doing so simply for your own pleasure or to gain power, then it is likely you are being driven by the fear that accompanies associating oneself entirely with this individual and personality...because, if even on an instinctual level, you know it won't last.

But there are no hard and fast rules here.

And, it is very true, that the True Nature cannot be gone against. In the end, all that we do is from our True Self, and all is as it should be. But a part of that is our drive to learn, differentiate, grow, and change. And, thus, these must also be included. It is around this point that the literal and linear nature of language becomes a barrier. Every statement appears to contradict. This is due to the Infinite nature of Infinity...you can't encapsulate it in any one word, idea, thing, action, etc, because it is them all, and all of them are in It.

The reason I switch gears is because, for many people, once this idea has been given to them their first reaction is to begin to get down on themselves about having a personality, or identifying too selfishly. It must be understood that the Ego is an illusion in the way that a wave upon the ocean is an illusion: it looks like it is something different, and separate...but follow it to its base, and you find that it is actually simply a ripple upon a vast body of water. No two alike...no two really different, on any fundamental level.

So, I say accept both sides of it equally. We are all one...but we are all different. Each side of that is a pure, beautiful manifestation of That-Which-Cannot-Be-Named-Because-It-Is-Too-Big-For-Words. ^_~

Basically, I say it comes from your higher self when it is an inclusive drive, motivated by -- or at least taking into consideration of -- the good of others as well as this finite self.

Also, these ideas of 'higher' and 'lower' should very much be understood as relative values. That is, they only have any existence during comparison. Something that is 'higher' is not necessarily 'better', in any absolute sense -- any more than, going back to our earlier metaphor, a Tidal wave is more wet than its smaller brethren.

To use another metaphor, the Oak Tree may be more developed than the acorn, but you can't say one is better than the other...for without either you have neither.

It is simply a sometimes-useful concept when navigating and learning about the world, not an excuse to hurt, exploit, or control in any way whatsoever.

Hopefully I have not confused you further. =P

"You must *be* the change you wish to see in the world."
Mahatma Gandhi