See the actual state of things as they are
Ego plays brilliantly on our fundamental fear of losing control, and of the unknown. We might say to ourselves: “I should really let go of ego, I’m in such pain; but if I do, what’s going to happen to me?”
Ego will chime in sweetly: “I know I’m sometimes a nuisance, and believe me, I quite understand if you want me to leave. But is that really what you want? Think: If I do go, what’s going to happen to you? Who’ll look after you? Who will protect and care for you like I’ve done all these years?”
Even if we see through the lies of the ego, we are just too scared to abandon it; for without any true knowledge of the nature of our mind, or true identity, we simply have no other alternative. Again and again we cave in to ego’s demands with the same sad self-hatred as the alcoholic feels reaching for the drink that he knows is destroying him, or the drug addict feels groping for the drug that she knows after a brief high will only leave her flat and desperate.
Wrong views and wrong convictions can be the most devastating of all our delusions. Surely Adolf Hitler and Pol Pot must have been convinced that they were right too? And yet each and every one of us has that same dangerous tendency as they had: to form convictions, believe them without question, and act on them, so bringing down suffering not only on ourselves but on all those around us.
On the other hand, the heart of Buddha’s teaching is to see “the actual state of things, as they are,” and this is called the true View. It is a view that is all-embracing, as the role of spiritual teachings is precisely to give us a complete perspective on the nature of mind and reality.
Ego will chime in sweetly: “I know I’m sometimes a nuisance, and believe me, I quite understand if you want me to leave. But is that really what you want? Think: If I do go, what’s going to happen to you? Who’ll look after you? Who will protect and care for you like I’ve done all these years?”
Even if we see through the lies of the ego, we are just too scared to abandon it; for without any true knowledge of the nature of our mind, or true identity, we simply have no other alternative. Again and again we cave in to ego’s demands with the same sad self-hatred as the alcoholic feels reaching for the drink that he knows is destroying him, or the drug addict feels groping for the drug that she knows after a brief high will only leave her flat and desperate.
Wrong views and wrong convictions can be the most devastating of all our delusions. Surely Adolf Hitler and Pol Pot must have been convinced that they were right too? And yet each and every one of us has that same dangerous tendency as they had: to form convictions, believe them without question, and act on them, so bringing down suffering not only on ourselves but on all those around us.
On the other hand, the heart of Buddha’s teaching is to see “the actual state of things, as they are,” and this is called the true View. It is a view that is all-embracing, as the role of spiritual teachings is precisely to give us a complete perspective on the nature of mind and reality.
1 Response to "See Through the Lies and Abandon the Ego" 
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said this on 05 Jun 2007 5:48:21 AM EDT
To release the ego is what the mystics called the Dark Night of the Soul. A wise man once told me to concentrate on love and the ego will disapate of it's own accord.
The ego fights to stay alive in us for it is who we relate to. Without is who are we. It is only when we venture into our inner selves and see ourselves as part of the universal consciousness and capable of every evil that humility comes to us. I can actually say I have come face to face with the manifestatation of collective evil - the devil. This is the final attack by the ego to prevent the soul finding the truth of existence. Once you pass this reality slowly intergrates your soul and you see the world as it truly is; a playground for the illusion called life. A playground for egos. Nothing is as it seems. It can be a lonely place to be until full enlightenment graces us and the wonder of oneness releases us from the bonds of this earth. While we still remain on this earth there will always be a degree of ego and darkness. Even Jesus felt the lonliness before his death when his apostles deserted him and he felt his father desert him. This is the ultimate dark night of the soul. Ann |
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