Ego?
The ego does not necessarily thrive on fear, but many would begin to believe that in the modern world, the ego cannot exist without fear.
The ego is a body-based survival mechanism that only exists to prepare, to ensure the further survival of the entity in its control. The main issue for many is that the entity is not always in control of the ego, but the other way around.
In this case, its actions and observations are made through fear in a need for vigilant self-preservation. When the ego controls the mind and body, people become narcissistic, afraid, paranoid, and selfish. When the mind controls the ego, people are generous, compassionate, and selfless.
In the eternal Now, the ego nearly ceases to exist. Since there are no thoughts of the future or past in the Now, the ego simply serves as a mechanism to define the separation between the Self and the Other.
For the vast majority, the ego is a device of fear and thus its existence is not pleasant. It cowers, plots, hides, and attacks, as do those who use the ego as their guide. In this case, the kindest thing to do to the ego is put it out of its misery and extinguish it.
Unfortunately, this is much easier said than done. Many of us are identified with our egos, and an undeniable complexity is the fact that we created it. The ego is like a fearful, tired and angry child that we cannot simply release. To do so feels like casting off a child or a huge part of ourselves.
But it must be extinguished, or at least quelled. To allow it to thrive beyond its inherent capacity - that is, as a mediator of the discrepancy between Mind and - is to extend its suffering and, by further extension, our own.
The ego is a body-based survival mechanism that only exists to prepare, to ensure the further survival of the entity in its control. The main issue for many is that the entity is not always in control of the ego, but the other way around.
In this case, its actions and observations are made through fear in a need for vigilant self-preservation. When the ego controls the mind and body, people become narcissistic, afraid, paranoid, and selfish. When the mind controls the ego, people are generous, compassionate, and selfless.
In the eternal Now, the ego nearly ceases to exist. Since there are no thoughts of the future or past in the Now, the ego simply serves as a mechanism to define the separation between the Self and the Other.
For the vast majority, the ego is a device of fear and thus its existence is not pleasant. It cowers, plots, hides, and attacks, as do those who use the ego as their guide. In this case, the kindest thing to do to the ego is put it out of its misery and extinguish it.
Unfortunately, this is much easier said than done. Many of us are identified with our egos, and an undeniable complexity is the fact that we created it. The ego is like a fearful, tired and angry child that we cannot simply release. To do so feels like casting off a child or a huge part of ourselves.
But it must be extinguished, or at least quelled. To allow it to thrive beyond its inherent capacity - that is, as a mediator of the discrepancy between Mind and - is to extend its suffering and, by further extension, our own.
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