Professionals, spiritualists, intellectuals say it is among the many causes of all ills. Perhaps. But in my own view, without ego there isn't much to look forward in life. It's what fuels me to live, to strive, and to continue living. Attachment they say is ego. But we live in a material world, we need things to exist. And often they remain when people go. They are constant. A shoes, a bag, a television can last for decades when given the proper care. In this day and age, materialism lacks depth. A lot of people excluding me, of course, don't give due importance to their belongings.
When a person resists, complains, blames, criticizes, envies, doubts, denies, judges, worries, lies, dislikes, disapproves, and competes, it is the ego playing I've read. But what then is the purpose of freewill, our capacity to choose and maintain a standard. When you wallow in the bitterness or negativities of it all, ego can really be an ugly thing. But if you channel it into something positive it then becomes a blessing in disguise. Envy can make a person strive for excellence. Doubt can challenge one's faith and without it, remembering a line from the film Exorcist, is not really faith. Worry can make one prepared and ready. Lying can save one from pain or heartache. Denying gives one the courage to stand up for one's own belief despite all odds. Complaining can awaken people to change what is wrong in the system. Competing gives one unmeasurable pleasure. And so on.... I believe in the saying the end justifies the means.
But, I also dare say, ego is good but should still be in moderation. Too much of it like any other thing or idea is not favorable, even to the senses. It can be totally intoxicating that one may not see and realize what really matters.
There are always two sides of the coin but then again it is not just black or white for me, there exists a gray area in all things. There is no absolute truth for it lies somewhere in between.
So again, the key is to strike the perfect blend of balance. It is interesting to note what I've learned in a newspaper article published last 2003 (yeah it really pays to be OC in keeping old stuff) where it says that service, which is a guard against ego, is a form of creativity. I used to dislike assisting in the household chore but just recently I came to enjoy it and gladly accepted.... all for the sake of art, isn't that wonderful?!!
When a person resists, complains, blames, criticizes, envies, doubts, denies, judges, worries, lies, dislikes, disapproves, and competes, it is the ego playing I've read. But what then is the purpose of freewill, our capacity to choose and maintain a standard. When you wallow in the bitterness or negativities of it all, ego can really be an ugly thing. But if you channel it into something positive it then becomes a blessing in disguise. Envy can make a person strive for excellence. Doubt can challenge one's faith and without it, remembering a line from the film Exorcist, is not really faith. Worry can make one prepared and ready. Lying can save one from pain or heartache. Denying gives one the courage to stand up for one's own belief despite all odds. Complaining can awaken people to change what is wrong in the system. Competing gives one unmeasurable pleasure. And so on.... I believe in the saying the end justifies the means.
But, I also dare say, ego is good but should still be in moderation. Too much of it like any other thing or idea is not favorable, even to the senses. It can be totally intoxicating that one may not see and realize what really matters.
There are always two sides of the coin but then again it is not just black or white for me, there exists a gray area in all things. There is no absolute truth for it lies somewhere in between.
So again, the key is to strike the perfect blend of balance. It is interesting to note what I've learned in a newspaper article published last 2003 (yeah it really pays to be OC in keeping old stuff) where it says that service, which is a guard against ego, is a form of creativity. I used to dislike assisting in the household chore but just recently I came to enjoy it and gladly accepted.... all for the sake of art, isn't that wonderful?!!
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