The occurrence of Ego in the human subject and how to overcome it.

most are utterly convinced of their own individuality, lost in layers of haughtiness and self importance, the natural result of being an island of consciousness with only your self for referent, this strange circuit leading them further and further into the depths of ego. Never even considering that the human experience might take place on a higher shared level of mutuality, and thusly remain quite baffled by phenomena like mob mentality and shared psychosis. Remaining shut off from the rest of reality, being secured in their bubble of subjectivity, convinced in the illusion of sovereign individuality that leads to the manifestation of ego in the human subject... factors like greed hatred jealousy wrath etc all stem from this illusion of self over reality, the ensnarment of Desire. just as an island diverts the sea around it, so too does our ego serve to divert actual experience, which is intrinsically good and beautiful and true, leaving room for lies to manifest in the dark recesses of the mind. so ensnared, one is slave to the whims and dictates of that cruel tyrant who seethes and whispers things which are not into the hearts and minds of men, through passion and logic he feeds men his twisted view of reality which, when followed, serves to bring chaos and ruin into the world, and sequesters the individual further into iniquity, mired in the darkness of their self... Many in the world are so led by this deepest of black magic, and it is thus that we see and live in this vile, ignorant world society, marred by wars and famine, bitterness and futility.

Enter: The GoldFish. so named for my worse than absentmindedness, clumsiness and general inefficiency. A lazy, idealistic bum surviving off the waste of a society which i so oft denounce, I have seen and i have made my share of chaos and ruin, seeing the ever hungry jaws of destruction open the wider i endeavored to turn aside from such iniquity. slipping sideways through metaphysical inquiry, i acquired a vision of unity and freedom and have made my lifes endeavor a search to find the words capable of encapsulating the problem of human experience, and further of drawing men outside of themselves and into a golden experience of unity... Futile, probably so, but along my search i have defeated futility: an endeavoring is not evaluated in terms of its successful conclusion but rather the effort put forth in trying to actualize a dream of a better tomorrow, and so i stalwartly refuse to give up on my quest. of course, any endeavor reflects not just the reality one wishes to see, but the reality of ones self, and along my quest i am acquiring, alongside the all too small morsels of wider unity, bits and peaces of my fragmented self falling into place as i am made whole in my quest for unity.

To escape from the clutches of ego, one must be willing to step outside of their self and consider the other. To learn, through immersion, of different peoples and their culture. to consider, through honest reflection, that each and every Thing in existence is an experience exactly as valuable as my own. to sit with anothers pain and brokenness, without trying to fix it. to laugh with a stranger, to grieve and cry for his loss. to treasure each moment as sacred, and to dedicate oneself to, by the best of each ones ability(mine own is words and it is at this i am presently engaged) , raising the quality of experience for the world around you. to dare to be mutually vulnerable, and understanding of the darker nature of mankind, united not in freedom from darkness but by our mutual desire to be free and in the light... to be understanding and caring, especially of anothers misunderstanding and noncaringness. to help each other break past their negative thought loops and behavior patterns... to stand united and overcome our darkness, we must be free to confess without judgement or retribution a message of repentance, a desire and inability to overcome personal darkness... in order to move intk the light we musf be able to honestly look at our own darkness and that of others, and stand united in our desire to overcome... only then can we create the worthy experience we were meant to have- an experience of unity, civility and dignity which some speak of as the fable of utopia- which i call a truly civilized society.

to realize, while money has its place, none should for its lack be told that theg are worthless, deserving to die hungry, naked, cold and alone... What a sad farce charity work is! people who, in order to combat the artificial disparity created by money, attempt to redirect the flow of money to aid those who for its lack are unable to provide for themselves even the most basic human necessities. More than money, is the problem of attitude. None should suffer unduly! warehouses all over the world chock full of food and clothing, a single cities waste alone more than enough to provjde the needs of the local homeless- of course, only by accident.( the saddest things i have ever seen: dumpster locks and water faucet locks) the reason this is so is money, which itself is only so because the attitude and behavior of those who use money, which is ego made manifest. (the voice of money says to forget the starving kids half the world over, you need those new shoes) in this sense, then, even removing money we should still not create the healthy society, because people would still be trapped in the 'individual>collective' mindset, that is to say, ego. whereas, if we come together and say 'community>individual' and actually abide by that, working together as The People, providing for the needs of the People, we can realize that even sans replicator technology money is worse than worthless... a trulh civilized society has no need of money to regulate the basic needs of her people, for as such they neccessarily provide those basic necessities to all who require them! money thusly becomes an obstacle. what payment do i require to help a friend in need, except with kindness reassured the friend will respond in kind, given the opportunity? housing the homeless is a worthwhile endeavor torwards which payment is not only not neccessary but indeed reviled.

with such an attitude in mind, what problems could afflict such a society, beyond the troubled pangs of our universe? it really is as simple as it sounds. the tricky part is, how do we, as imperfect beings, strive torwards perfection? by running pellmell away from imperfection! if, upon perceiving in the self some undesirable quality, recognize that your disdain has seperated you from your iniquity, and therefore all you must do is strive to act against it... We need a societal attitude readjustment in which we can be free to work together to overcome ourselves, to become, at long last, more fully Human.

All that verbiage to ask the question" Cant we all just get along?"...........I find the excess rather self aggrandizing impression wise.....
But hold that thought....

While I agree with you that a societal reprogramming is badly needed, I must disagree with you that the ego must be overcome. Rather, I think the ego must be understood from the viewpoint of how it was shaped, mainly, by one's environment. If it was shaped into a negative ego, then a path of higher learning and understanding is required to transform it into a positive ego. Once we are on the path of understanding the roots of darkness, only then can we bring in the light.

originally posted by: InTheLight
While I agree with you that a societal reprogramming is badly needed, I must disagree with you that the ego must be overcome. Rather, I think the ego must be understood from the viewpoint of how it was shaped, mainly, by one's environment. If it was shaped into a negative ego, then a path of higher learning and understanding is required to transform it into a positive ego. Once we are on the path of understanding the roots of darkness, only then can we bring in the light.

When we understand the scriptures, only then can we bring in the Light. For it is from the scriptures that man has learned to worship angels and demons. To eliminate the false interpretation of darkness one must understand the light.

It is a path that is impossible for man. But if one knocks the door will be opened by him. The next step is yours. Faith to enter.

originally posted by: Isurrender73

originally posted by: InTheLight
While I agree with you that a societal reprogramming is badly needed, I must disagree with you that the ego must be overcome. Rather, I think the ego must be understood from the viewpoint of how it was shaped, mainly, by one's environment. If it was shaped into a negative ego, then a path of higher learning and understanding is required to transform it into a positive ego. Once we are on the path of understanding the roots of darkness, only then can we bring in the light.

When we understand the scriptures, only then can we bring in the Light. For it is from the scriptures that man has learned to worship angels and demons. To eliminate the false interpretation of darkness one must understand the light.

It is a path that is impossible for man. But if one knocks the door will be opened by him. The next step is yours. Faith to enter.

Faith may or not play a part in opening doors, that depends on personal truth and beliefs. Scripture can only take us so far, and when one finds oneself on the precipice of truth, what will make you take that leap; others' truth, or your own?

@SnippytheHorse

all that 'verbiage' as you put it, was my answering the question. first i framed the problem of ego, then i addressed how we can get along, and i ended with a question so the reader could be free to draw their own answer, then compare it with mine so the greater truth can be found.
And then i answered it again.

@IntheLight

that is exactlt the process i mean when i say 'overcome'. not 'kill', or 'escape', but to purify and make whole.

a reply to: LucidWarrior

What I think your saying is there is no room for the egotistical and arrogance that arises from self importance.

Ego in itself is a challenging subject. Ego is the essence of what we believe. For most live in fear because they follow a flawed philosophy.

Original Sin, Scapegoats, Ritual Salvation.

How can one who cannot follow the rules of their God by unified with him? If God is Light, then his Laws represent the Light. Only one who obeys the laws will be unified with him.

What laws represent the law. To Love one another. How can one who cannot obey the law become unified with his brothers?

You must understand the hurdles in front of us. They don't believe they are made in his image. They don't believe in freewill. They don't believe they are called to be masters of sin. So they remain mastered by it.

It will take an entire philosophical enlightenment that will shake the foundation of all the world's religions. But if we are successful all the world's religions will be brought unified into the Light.

'What laws represent the law. To Love one another. How can one who cannot obey the law become unified with his brothers?'

from the OP: 'to be unified, not through our separation fron darkness, but in our desire to be free and in the light' like i said multiple times we are imperfect and aren't going to be perfect, to achieve utopia therefore we must collextively recognize this, collectivelt shun imperfection, and then unified work together to create light in the darkness.

originally posted by: LucidWarrior
@SnippytheHorse

all that 'verbiage' as you put it, was my answering the question. first i framed the problem of ego, then i addressed how we can get along, and i ended with a question so the reader could be free to draw their own answer, then compare it with mine so the greater truth can be found.
And then i answered it again.

@IntheLight

that is exactlt the process i mean when i say 'overcome'. not 'kill', or 'escape', but to purify and make whole.

Then we are in agreement, but there is much to learn and overcome.

www.energeticsynthesis.com...

www.energeticsynthesis.com...

a reply to: InTheLight

Where did your truth come from?

The answer is the same for everyone - from what you believe, (the sum result of your experiences and how you have interpreted them)

Everything is what you believe it is. Everything that is not physically bound in science is taken on faith.

The largest part of Freewill - Changing your mind. One can only change one's mind about spirituality through faith. Due to our ego and fears we have to see benefit in something to pursue it.

What is the benefit in this unity and light you speak of? How can I take advantage when I am a fallen man who believes I am incapable of doing what I need to find unification. My ritual has saved me, what can you do for me?

I am sinner. I follow other sinners who along with me are incapable of overcoming sin. We will continue to be occasionally mastered by sin until the day we die, because our philosophy prevents us from doing anything else.

Therefore, because of our sins we cannot enter this Light you speak of until we die. It is when we die that our Prophet will testify that we performed the correct ritual, then we will enter the Light.

Are you seeing the problem yet? It's all about faith. They can't do what your asking without a complete philosophical change of mind.

They have choosen Ritual Salvation over One God and a unified brother hood. They make this choice because they don't have faith in themselves. They don't believe in nor comprehend freewill. They believe they are trapped in a sinful body with a sinful mind.

How can anyone trapped in darkness experience the Light? They may experience his Grace, the "Born Again" experience seen in modern Christianity. But they cannot stay in his Light because they are disobedient.

You might as well say to this mountain (religion), cast yourself into the sea.

Mark 11-23
For verily I say to you that whosoever shall say to this mountain, Remove thyself and cast thyself into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart but shall believe that what he says shall be done whatsoever he says shall be done for him. - Amen

It starts with faith (what you believe)
It ends with faith (what you believe)

Everything in between is material. Quite useless since Nirvana only exists for those who already possess everything they need.

Add

There is a profound philosophical difference between the two following philosophies.

1. I am an ignorant man who makes mistakes and learns from them. Returning to obedience to righteousness through the education I received do to the chaos I created.

2. I am sinful man. I am trapped with a disobedient mind in a disobedient body. I am fallen and I cannot escape this condition I am in so I have performed the scapegoat rituals to save my soul from this wretched state. My prophet will save me when I die.

Can you understand the problem?

originally posted by: LucidWarrior
'What laws represent the law. To Love one another. How can one who cannot obey the law become unified with his brothers?'

from the OP: 'to be unified, not through our separation fron darkness, but in our desire to be free and in the light' like i said multiple times we are imperfect and aren't going to be perfect, to achieve utopia therefore we must collextively recognize this, collectivelt shun imperfection, and then unified work together to create light in the darkness.

I was created in the image of perfection. Love is perfection. I have freewill. When should I choose not to Love? Why can't I always Love?

If I always Love I am perfect according to the scriptures. You can always choose Love. You do have freewill.

We are ignorant. Our ignorance creates chaos. We can overcome both our ignorance and the chaos we create.

We can all Love one another Like brothers. Anyone who doesn't believe they can Love others like brothers should check themselves into a mental hospital.

I disagree with the entire premise.

You cannot overcome ego, you only begin denying it and therefore become even more egotistical.

Also, there is no such thing as collective experience, enlightenment, etc.

Each individual can only experience something from their own vantage point.

Everyone thinks differently to varying degrees, so expecting everyone to fall in line with a certain philosophy is tyranny and exceptionally egotistical.

The very suggestion you can or should overcome ego completely is pretentious egomania.

a reply to: Isurrender73

The problem seems to be the acceptance of others' (religious) beliefs that you (and all of us) are sinners. Even in scripture there are wise words to love yourself.

Jesus stunned His listeners in proclaiming His own divine identity. But He went even further, quoting a verse that tells human beings, "You are gods." Indeed, as many passages show, God is a family.

www.ucg.org...

Thank you Muzzleflash..........perhaps im just too vague at times....

a reply to: InTheLight

Those who follow Original Sin do not follow the Perfect Spirit who overcame all sin. That Perfect Spirit is in me. The Holy Spirit is my teacher.

But you and others, most of the world actually, call Jesus a liar. Apparently Jesus told someone to do the impossible.

John 8:11

"No, Lord," she said. And Jesus said, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more."

Jesus believed she could learn from her past and overcome her sin. Anyone trapped by Original Sin will learn from there sins, but they will never overcome them. There own philosophy prevents them from overcoming sin, which is the obstacles to Love and Peace in their life.

How can I accept a religious philosophy that is damaging to its followers? I can't accept any philosophy that is damaging to the human mind.

The philosophy of Ritual Salvation divides us. As long as men believe in Scapegoats through Ritual Salvation they will fight over Rituals. Rituals cannot unify mankind, they create obstacles to unity.

The religions don't truly tolerate or accept one another. The entire foundation of their teaching prevents unity by trying to force unity.

In their minds they condemn those who don't believe what they believe. You may see outward signs of tolerance but the heart is far from tolerant. They are full of condemnation, never accepting those who are different.

Confusious said he was able to walk the path of light perfectly by age 70, no longer having to actively think about it. I will follow his path, and God willing make it to the end a few years before he did.

Perfect Love is the narrow path that few find. Sin is the wide path that leads to destruction. We have freewill to choose.

originally posted by: muzzleflash
I disagree with the entire premise.

You cannot overcome ego, you only begin denying it and therefore become even more egotistical.

Also, there is no such thing as collective experience, enlightenment, etc.

Each individual can only experience something from their own vantage point.

Everyone thinks differently to varying degrees, so expecting everyone to fall in line with a certain philosophy is tyranny and exceptionally egotistical.

The very suggestion you can or should overcome ego completely is pretentious egomania.

I disagree. There's a place you can go where you see your ego for what it is, completely separate from yourself and who you really are. An ego is a mental construct, nothing else. What we really are is behind all of that. The ego is just a shirt we throw on and walk around in.

a reply to: muzzleflash

How can you say something doesn't exist because you don't believe in it?

Enlightenment does exist. Who are you to tell me differently?

You can't find what you don't believe in. It is about faith. Believe what you want, but I will choose to believe in and stay In the Light, enlightened.

My experience is at least as real as yours.

The ego projects itself to others. This is not inherently good or bad. It's only bad when what is unpleasant to hear is destructive. When unpleasant words are necessary they are constructive.

Are you being constructive or destructive? You sound destructive. Maybe if you include your reasoning for being so you could be seen as being constructive.

a reply to: LucidWarrior

I don't think people are convinced of their individuality, or at least, they aren't convinced enough. What you describe is not ego, but solipsism. People are too subjective about themselves while too objective about other people to the point where other people are merely the objects of experience, and not themselves experiencing objects. Kierkegaard was right when he suggested we should be objective about ourselves while subjective of others, because as of now, the exact opposite is our default setting.

a reply to: LesMisanthrope

nailed it les...

I also think there's a misunderstanding of the ego as merely it's just a mind construct that allows us to interact with reality and maintain some continuity of character. It is neither a good or a bad thing it just is

originally posted by: underwerks

originally posted by: muzzleflash
I disagree with the entire premise.

You cannot overcome ego, you only begin denying it and therefore become even more egotistical.

Also, there is no such thing as collective experience, enlightenment, etc.

Each individual can only experience something from their own vantage point.

Everyone thinks differently to varying degrees, so expecting everyone to fall in line with a certain philosophy is tyranny and exceptionally egotistical.

The very suggestion you can or should overcome ego completely is pretentious egomania.

I disagree. There's a place you can go where you see your ego for what it is, completely separate from yourself and who you really are. An ego is a mental construct, nothing else. What we really are is behind all of that. The ego is just a shirt we throw on and walk around in.

That place is "the other side", and we can only glimpse it at best.

To actually go there is death of our physical body.

I think you misunderstood my post though, which was aiming to reveal the paradoxical and ironic nature of "overcoming ego".