Thank you, Gayle! This is so important! Spread this message! It is so tempting to live in anger, fear, regret, etc. That is debilitating. It is the ego. It will eventually kill us, if left unchecked. Have tools at the ready (like you described - any loving endeavor) so that you can counter the temptation to circle the drain. Stay strong. Be playful at least part of every day. 🩷
Mary. Can u explain how anger, fear, regret is the ego? I took Buddhist classes years ago but can’t remember. It will help me to understand cause my anger and sadness is getting pretty strong.
Hi Linda! Thanks for your question. I’ll try my best to answer.
My thoughts about the ego are based on my study of A Course in Miracles and Eckhart Tolle’s excellent book, A New Earth, chapters 2, 3 and 4.
Who we are is love. This applies to all human beings. Love is our nature state.
How we are (how we behave) depends on whether or not we know (or remember) Who we are.
When we love ourselves, we express that love in the world.
When we don’t love ourselves, we look for love outside ourselves and do all sorts of things to gain love, approval and appreciation (Byron Katie).
When we think we’re not good enough, that we need to prove ourselves worthy, that we did something wrong, etc., we’re believing a lie. That’s the ego. It’s the “false self”.
Eckhart says (paraphrasing) that every time you recognize the ego in yourself or another, you loosen its grip. We get plenty of practice every day.
My modification of The Lord’s Prayer:
…and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from EGO, amen. 🙏🏻
And most important, talk to your wives and play with the babies and pets! Look at the flowers.
Thank you, Gayle! This is so important! Spread this message! It is so tempting to live in anger, fear, regret, etc. That is debilitating. It is the ego. It will eventually kill us, if left unchecked. Have tools at the ready (like you described - any loving endeavor) so that you can counter the temptation to circle the drain. Stay strong. Be playful at least part of every day. 🩷
Amen Mary!!
Mary. Can u explain how anger, fear, regret is the ego? I took Buddhist classes years ago but can’t remember. It will help me to understand cause my anger and sadness is getting pretty strong.
Hi Linda! Thanks for your question. I’ll try my best to answer.
My thoughts about the ego are based on my study of A Course in Miracles and Eckhart Tolle’s excellent book, A New Earth, chapters 2, 3 and 4.
Who we are is love. This applies to all human beings. Love is our nature state.
How we are (how we behave) depends on whether or not we know (or remember) Who we are.
When we love ourselves, we express that love in the world.
When we don’t love ourselves, we look for love outside ourselves and do all sorts of things to gain love, approval and appreciation (Byron Katie).
When we think we’re not good enough, that we need to prove ourselves worthy, that we did something wrong, etc., we’re believing a lie. That’s the ego. It’s the “false self”.
Eckhart says (paraphrasing) that every time you recognize the ego in yourself or another, you loosen its grip. We get plenty of practice every day.
My modification of The Lord’s Prayer:
…and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from EGO, amen. 🙏🏻