Ego

The ego is like a donkey that helps us across the desert. Though it‘s useful – its limitations beyond that point become apparent. Yet the ego of the past shouldn’t be treated as an enemy that’s trying to dominate us, but as a friend who doesn’t know how to say goodbye. If instead, we view the ego with humor and a natural, resonant feeling, we call consentience the past becomes a complete acceptance of our present condition in lieu of a struggle to forget.

Consider the ego aids us in becoming competent to deal with life’s difficulties, find expression for biological drives, and in new learning. It helps organize our personality into an integrated whole, maintains an identity with the outside world, helps us to survive and even shows concern. In this way the ego like the body can be seen as a resource for our spiritual growth.

Nonetheless, it’s also an illusion to believe the ego can ever be a true building block of our personalities. In many ways, the ego is like a flimsy hotel (ego hotel) we’ve built to escape our true spiritual home.

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