Tracing the Ego of Mankind – Summary and Conclusions

The nature of ego has been known to mankind since ancient times. Hindus sought to suppress it, Buddhists sought to walk a middle path of semi-acceptance, and Kabbalists embraced it as a natural and necessary part of our evolution. Christians, Jews, and Muslims seem to live in opposition to the teachings in their sacred texts by embracing, perhaps even celebrating the magnificence of the ego.

Ego has assisted both the rise and the fall of many empires throughout history; telling us that in spite of the warnings and instructions that were given to the world in ages past, people have chosen to live robustly from their ego.

Today the world appears to be at another peak in the expression and experience of ego. Some believe that we are in the end times and that the world as we know it is about to physically self-destruct. Others believe that we are in a period of awakening that will lead us into an age of peace and harmony. Regardless of what one chooses to believe, there is palpable tension everywhere and it is most certainly related to the collective ego of the world at this point in time.

One thing is certain; this is an amazing and interesting time to be alive. We are seeing the convergence of science and spiritual thought. Quantum physics is discovering unseen laws of the universe that support the spiritual wisdom which has been handed down through the ages. Scientific egos everywhere are in turmoil as they rally behind their intellect, looking not to prove the Universe is One but, to prove that everything is and always was separate, in spite of evidence to the contrary.

The world is also witness to a spiritual explosion of awakening to Oneness. As people recognize their connection to, and influence upon everything, both animate and inanimate, they are choosing less consumptive more earth friendly lifestyles. The impact of this change is felt in everything from food, manufacturing and housing, to medicine, education and politics.

It’s as if the world is completing a giant circle; from knowing we must beware of our ego, into a time where we have lived by our ego until recent awareness that the pain has become too great to continue, many are now heading back into a period of knowing again.

If this is in fact what we are witnessing then it would seem prudent to investigate how an awakening world can grow peacefully within an ailing egoistic society. Recognizing that ego is the veil that separates the illusionary physical world from the eternal spiritual world, we know that ego will always be a part of life on earth. We may find that the best solution has already been given to us in the Buddhist Way of the Middle Path.

Yet, one wonders how recent scientific discoveries might change the dynamics of our world. If in fact our world is like a never ending hologram, will the technology of the future will be mechanical, conscious, or both. In a mechanical world we already know the ego turns greedy, based on past experience. But science is telling us that the hologram or energy matrix that has been discovered is influenced by emotion. We might find that the egoistic mind will seek to enslave others more capable of producing the desired emotions. Of course, the other option is that in a world that can be manipulated with emotion, or thoughts, the enlightened have an unfair advantage regardless of position, power, education or just about anything else.

As the world enters a new age it appears that it will carry with it the same underlying problems it has always experienced, dressed in different attire. The goal remains the same throughout eternity; learn from one’s mistakes and strive for better next time.

Tracing the Ego of Mankind – Ego Creates Errors in Perception

Ego is like a balloon in which one lives. Everything outside that balloon is part of Oneness. From inside one’s balloon the Oneness cannot be seen; only the self can be seen and it is separate from everything else. Sadly, most people of the world live entirely in their own balloons, failing to see the Oneness. The balloon has become an invisible barrier that creates the illusion of separation. This invisible barrier also limits and controls one’s ability to interact with the outer world. The confinement and separation convinces one that they are unworthy to be part of anything else. To break the balloon, eliminating the barrier, is all that is required to see and become part of the Oneness.

Before we metaphysicians become too excited and rush out into the world with giant needles looking to pop the ego filled balloons of mankind, we would be well advised to check the condition of our own balloon first. In Jesus’ words, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”

Ego is clearly the source of the world’s problems and miseries both great and small. Yet to wage war against ego is to fuel the very problem we are trying to solve. In the book, A Course in Miracles, we are told that the actions of the ego are errors in thinking. That means that as metaphysicians we might best view ourselves as teachers correcting errors in how the ego perceives itself and the world around it. This sounds much more loving than the waging of another war. Experience has told us many times that war doesn’t create peace. Consider the war on drugs, the war on crime, and the war on terrorism. None of these wars has been successful, regardless of the time, energy, and resources put into them.

As one prepares to examine their own ego it would be wise to keep in mind the words of author and radio host Garrison Keillor, who introduces us to his mythical Minnesota community with the words, “Welcome to Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average.” These words are humorous yet they also represent a poignant commentary on how the ego really thinks. One’s initial self-examination could very well lead them down the proverbial primrose path if they are not completely open to the truth.

One place to test the ego is in identifying one’s motive for becoming a metaphysician and setting out into the world on this particular spiritual journey. Let’s consider this possible mission statement; I will create peace and happiness in the world by teaching, writing, and healing. If we break this down for analysis we might find that create peace and happiness appeals to us either because it simply is the right thing to do (spiritual) or because it will make us feel good (ego). Similarly we can scrutinize teaching, writing, and healing. One may have chosen these means because one is particularly knowledgeable and gifted in these areas (spiritual) or because it’s easier to make a living (money, honor, fame, security) doing this things (ego).

One’s ego will surely try to convince them that they are making their choices for spiritual reasons. Many metaphysicians even argue that it is reasonable to make a living helping people because the Universe demands an exchange of energy. But this argument comes from the ego which believes that life is finite. The Spirit recognizes that the exchange will come sometime in eternity based on one’s need. Buddhists refer to the ideal exchange as selfless giving. Kabbalists refer to it as receiving from the Creator with the intent to bestow. In both of these instances the giver must release attachment to what is given and to all possible outcomes.

When one finds themselves debating or justifying their financial motives it is pretty clear that the ego is involved. This defense is the egos fear that it will not survive. When one’s spirit is engaged this fear is gone and trust is placed in the law of abundance. One only need look at the lives of the great Masters and Saints, who gave help to those in need without expectation, yet their own needs were always met.

The purpose for this discussion is not to say one must be perfectly spiritual and altruistic in order to become a practicing metaphysician. If we were to become perfectly spiritual we would not be living in the physical realm. Rather, it is to demonstrate the crafty ways that ego will dress itself up in order to convince us of our specialness and our separateness. It is when we are able to recognize those times that we are thinking and acting from ego that we are actually awakening to our true spiritual nature. Change then becomes possible through this awareness. This is a lesson one needs to learn about ego and certainly one to be taught to others.

There are many arenas within which one may work to create this awareness. Many individuals are suffering their own self-imposed versions of hell because they don’t understand what their ego is doing to them. Families are suffering from conflicts and pain created by the selfish nature of the ego. Workers are suffering the abuse of power delivered by egoistic coworkers and superiors. Communities and even whole nations are suffering from fear of each other, fear of hunger and poverty, and fear that they may lose control of their destiny. Ego has so many dark faces; there is no end to where the awakened may choose to bring the light of awareness.

It just makes sense to grow where you are planted. That is to say, begin with yourself. The change in you will naturally create change in many of those around you. When you are able to accept the events of your life and your world unemotionally and recognize them as being the way they are meant to be, then you will know you are on the right path. In other words, change what you can and let the rest be. This is what peace feels like and this is what you will want for your fellow human beings. From this position you can teach as a voice of experience. How you value such a gift to the world can only be determined by you.

Tracing the Ego of Mankind – Eastern Traditions

The Perennial Philosophy was committed to writing over twenty-five centuries ago and was expressed in many different forms. It has been spoken in almost all the languages of Asia and Europe and has made use of the terminology and traditions of all of the higher religions.

At the core of the Perennial Philosophy are four fundamental doctrines: 1) The physical world and the spiritual world are the manifestation of a Higher Power, within which everything has it‟s being, and without which, would be nonexistent. 2) Humans are capable of more than just knowing about the Higher Power. They can also realize its existence by direct intuition thereby uniting the knower with the known. 3) Man has a dual nature; his ego or external self, and his eternal Self which is the inner man or spark of Divinity within the soul. 4) Man‟s life on earth has only one purpose and one end; that is to recognize his eternal Self and to become one with the Higher Power.

From the Perennial Philosophy, one can see that ego has been a concern of humanity for all of recorded history. Over time man has dealt with his ego in a variety of ways. In the Hindu Bhagavad-Gita, we read about the great warrior, Arjuna who asks his friend, Krishna (an enlightened being) how an illumined soul may be recognized. Krishna says to him: “He knows peace who has forgotten desire; He lives without craving, free from ego, free from pride.”

Krishna explains even more about the nature of ego when he identifies the three gunas or bonds that tie man to his mortal existence. It seems sattwa/rajas/tamas are the egos search for happiness and longing for knowledge/ the egos thirst for pleasure and possessions/and the egos delusion and ignorance about reality. Krishna tells Arjuna that man will be made free and become immortal when he has overcome the gunas and no longer yearns for them.

The Hindu tradition was a critical force in the development of Buddhism. Yet, there is a difference in how they perceive the ego and its role in physical life. Whereas Hindus seek to suppress ego, Buddhists seek to walk the Middle Path. This idea of a middle path is explained in an ancient sutra that tells a story called “The Parable of the Bird”.

The story tells of a particular royal palace in which there was a daily ritual of selecting plump birds from a large flock to be served at the king‟s table. One of the birds, who had been captured and kept in the flock, observed this selection process and secretly in his heart considered his fate; if he gorged himself and became obese, he reasoned that he would surely be slaughtered and devoured. However, if he did not eat, he knew that he would perish. In either event, he knew he would not escape death. He determined that it would be best to eat just the right amount so that he could live a long life. From that point on, he adequately reduced his food intake shrinking himself to the size of the holes in the net meshing of his bird cage. He then flew out into open air and became free.

This story suggests that the Middle Path is a philosophy of balance through moderation. It‟s actually more than that. The Middle Path seeks to attain a nature of emptiness. It recognizes that pain and hardship will always exist in the world and that joy, pleasure, and happiness will as well. The state of emptiness is a non-emotional, non-egocentric reaction to these events.

In the Samyuktagama, it says “One who thinks of impermanence will understand the truth of ego-lessness. The Enlightened One lives in the state of ego-lessness, renounces self-conceit and hence progresses towards liberation and Nirvana.”

The Middle Path is therefore more than a philosophy of moderation. It seeks to help one understand that physical life is impermanent and spiritual life is eternal. What happens in the physical life is of less concern (this too shall pass) than what happens in the spiritual life.