Some say the ego must disappear and others say the ego should be groomed and be allowed to express itself. I am a little confused. What is your comment?

Answer

If we wish to contemplate the ego we need to include the third-dimensional world of space (length, width and depth). Why? Because the ego lives in an environment of containment. It is happiest when it can rule in a set world of law and order, boundary and predictability. It is because of our ego that we can identify ourselves and our surroundings. It is through ego that we determine who we are and what we do in a third-dimensional world.

Think of it this way. Imagine that you are lost in the forest. Being unfamiliar with the vegetation you become a little anxious. Suddenly ahead of you a well-defined path appears. With a sigh of relief you step on it and continue on your way.

In this illustration we may say that the path is the ego bringing us into the familiar. Here we can ask ourselves the following question: “Where do I place myself—my attitudes, my tastes, my ambitions—in the world around me?”

To my perspective, the ego needs to be acknowledged, understood and lovingly accepted before we can voyage on into a greater expression where the ego takes “the back seat.” We never truly suppress or erase the ego. We simply allow our spirit to move into first position. We must always be mindful that humankind can only move forward when people are incited, through the inner Self, to transform the third dimensional world, not circumvent it. The moment we consciously decide to transform the physical world into a more elegant expression (employing such qualities as compassion, co-operation, generosity, tolerance, truth and justice) we move from an ego-based society to a spiritually-based society. Yet, as individuals still living in a world of duality, we are encouraged to understand our egos. From this comprehension we evolve to a finer way of thinking and doing; the ego becomes obsolete and the world of Love and loving Intelligence becomes dominant.

If the ego is comfortable existing in a closed and predictable environment of separation (“I think of me before I think of you”) then the spirit is comfortable living in an open, free and loving environment of unity (‘I think of us all”). It is with our free will that we exercise our choice. What do we decide to live with? Ego or Spirit? Or a combination of both?

We realize that ultimately our world will move completely into the expression of spirit. But each of us is asked every moment that we breathe and think, to choose. If we have created a solid footing of the ego in our third-dimensional world, we can easily go forward and leave it behind, secure in the knowledge that we are freeing ourselves up to exploring a life of greater fulfillment. We drop the pebble and pick up the pearl.

Let us then go back to the illustration of the forest, where you are once again in unknown territory. Ask yourself this: “Have I created a healthy self-esteem? Have I created a personal security so true and strong that I can leave it and the familiar path to explore this new land, admire it and give thanks for the opportunity to have discovered it?

The choice is ours to make.

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