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Hi, …I am wondering if our ego is like the engine, which is driving us, constituting our human nature and needed in order to survive- is it thus the same as the psychological ego, which creates our sense of self, self-esteem, self-awareness and judges us and the environment?
And assuming, we cannot eradicate the ego, we have to give it a proper direction, that is the intention, does that mean, in the work with friends, overcoming the ego means building a second pathway of bestowal while the ego stays as it is, or actively silencing the ego, like not listening to the impulses we get from our prefrontal cortex at this time? And in case of a “hurt ego” (which can cause quite some damage) …what is the spiritual perspective? The same?
I can discover the difference between the Point in the Heart and the ego either by the ego suffering in some way or by rising above it. Both, the ego doesn’t like. If the ego suffers, it’s more inclined to let me go above it, but I still have to rise above it. So, the way is to rise above it to love of friends, love of the Creator. When this happens the ego is shown in its proper role, having no role but to be help-against-me, to rise above it.
Hi, thanks so much for answering all these questions that are currently burning in me. I am aware that this is my ego, too…(and I have wondered if I should better just stop writing so much).Still, it is so helpful to get these answers, because it really reduces some of the confusion. Especially when it comes to the ego. And exactly there, I cannot help asking whether I am on the right track.What you wrote, was just so helpful. Now, I am wondering, do we really have to work „against“ the ego, or simply learn not to listen to it?
Like in the example with the cell and the organism… if we are like cells, and both the ego and the point in the heart would be like cell compartments each having a different function. The ego would help the cell (which is the human being) survive and the mind to grow desires (like letś say the mitochondria raise energy for the cell), but other than that it couldńt do anything functional for the body (which is the whole of creation). And the point in the heart would link the cell to the body, (like a transmittersystem that makes communication with the rest of the body possible). But most likely it would not raise energy for the cell, unless itś a different energy that comes through the connection with other cells. That would mean, to survive here in this world I need the ego. To connect to spirituality, I need the point in the heart. I cannot swop them. Thinking of it like that, makes me feel that the work with the friends is double precious, for once the point in the heart can grow, can connect. For another, thinking of this thoroughly positive approach- seeing the friends higher than me, feeling equality, focussing on love of friends in a group where everyone is concerned for the others… well, all the reason the ego is needed for, is gone. I suppose if there ever is a chance of „rising above the ego“, it is in such a group, because in this work we grow beyond that level of existance that the ego has been designed for. In such a society we may learn that we dońt need that „ego survival mode“. And if it doesńt come to rest, well, yes, than I know I have work to do to put it back to its place. May I see the work like that? May I see the ego like that? Or do I fool myself here?
We can’t clarify it much yet, because we don’t yet distinguish the Point in the Heart from the other desires in a clear way, but then we will use the Will to Receive like a beast of burden in its headstall. Not the ego – the ego is the Will to Receive with an intention to receive – but the Will to Receive, we can use. And in the meantime, I just have to use it like everyone, in all the regular situations.
My spiritual work is done in the known designated place: the group. The two spheres will bridge later.
If a person corrects a desire is that desire corrected forever? Are there some desires that we need to correct more than once? How do we know what desires to start with? I guess we start with the least coarse desires but how do we know which ones they are?
It’s corrected forever. The fact that it seems I correct the same ones, it’s because they are not corrected yet. Additionally, a desire has to be corrected on all 4 levels of Aviut, which is why you have such a notion that a desire might be corrected again. It’s also not up to us which desires to correct. We correct what is put in front of us. That’s the spiritual desire, whose correction is to be in the ten. There is nothing else in front of us.
How does one both see and be concerned with the path of the friends spirituality at the same time see them as already corrected ? how can this be reconciled ?
Hello, what can one do once they come to the realization that its the ego that drives them toward studying of Kabbalah ? and then Pharaoh comes to tell a person that if its been working for the ego then what is the point of continuing ? is this just an extension that tells a person how impossible this process is on his own ? and the answer is prayer and to continue in connection basically ? then begins ones question of “how many things have been prayed for that were directly from the ego ?” many questions arise at this point it is indeed impossible to rid the ego but we just make it a slave to love the Lord your God with both inclinations ? it seems prayer is the only way and just continue until some sort of change occurs within perhaps? That is many questions but I appreciate your time in the answering . Thank you.
Kabbalists write that if you try to go on the path, they tell you ‘there is a lion on the way.’ If that doesn’t deter you, they tell you something totally different. They tell you the goal is not so high, so why try? Then they tell you, ok, the goal is sublime, but it’s for special souls, not someone like you. And so on. The answer to the arguments is along the lines of “punch it in the teeth.” Since you can’t win the argument, you simply break his face so he can’t speak. You don’t engage, and you continue. If you have to answer, the answer is “I am going Above Reason because the Creator decided that Above Reason is the most suitable for reaching the goal. And I will answer you afterwards.” Going toward the goal because of the ego works just fine: “From Lo Lishma we come to Lishma.” The only difference, if you think you’re going only with your ego, is that before I didn’t know that I was going with my ego; I thought that maybe I am, perhaps, already in Lishma; and now I know that’s not yet the case.
Hi, I am wondering how to deal with the advise to isolate oneself from external influence in terms of spirituality. When it comes to strong religious or secular communities who may object or mock about spirituality, I can understand. When it comes to other teachings, I am wondering what is meant by isolation…I understand it really doesn’t make sense to mix different approaches, but as a part of locating where I am, to acknowledge these other teachings… rather than hiding from them… I would even consider it beneficial to know them in order to get a clearer view on what I am actually doing, as that shows in the contrast to other things. And finally, what actually makes me feel concerned is, that through isolation one may get stuck or lose the path, as finally, we are all humans, and even if we work with the most beautiful ten, it’s not said, that we don’t get all lost together. So if we isolate in a situation like that, how would we ever know where we are and how to get back on track ? May be you can help me a bit to clarify this demand of isolation.
Wait, who said to isolate?
But no, it’s not true that to truly understand karate, I must learn taekwondo, or that to do physics, I also need to be well-versed in English literature. If I’m going to be in the Olympics, I don’t have time or attention to be a dabbler. Dabblers won’t make it. Depends what one is trying to do in life.
Hi :-), well, I was referring to one of the Rabash articles …No 12…
“Hence, there is no other solution but to establish a separate society for themselves…”
“if the society isolates itself from the rest of the people, if they have no connection with other people in regards to spiritual matters, and their contact is only on corporeal matters, they will not mingle with their views”…
“therefore, in matters of work on the path of truth, one should isolate oneself from other people”.
I understood that in order to not get influenced too much by corporeal values and the mindset of what the majority does, one should separate corporeal versus spiritual life, and in one´s spiritual life stick to one´s spiritual society and in the spiritual work isolate from other groups that might influence through their different approach. I totally agree, that to learn any skill or follow any path, I have to be committed equally, that mixing different teachings doesn´t make sense. I just wondered, how I can take care that if I AM in a spiritual society, let´s say in a ten, or even in a bigger group that is comitted to the same goal, we don´t get lost with each other. What is my resonsibility in this? Because, if the group isolates from outer influence, how can it at the same time make sure, it doesn´t go astray? After all, much as we wish to progress, we still are humans and our ego is working in us…
I’m not going to bring up politics in the karate dojo. It’s known that there’s no space for that. We discuss techniques and basically nothing else. The dojo is the place to practice this only. Then when I’m outside, I’ll know how to fight. Let’s say I’m a special agent who goes to a dojo wherever I am in the world, to ensure the skills I need in my job are sharp. So here too, it depends if I’m a serious person in regards to spiritual advancement. There’s more than room for joy, but every move has to be with the intention: love of friends that yields love of the Creator.
Hi, I am wondering, if we work with self-scrutiny, how can we distinguish between relevant and irrelevant states? If for example a friend feels low,… it could be anything… a „descent“, a corporeal-life-based „low state“ or even an adversive life obstacle that will hinder him/her from staying on the path. So how could we differentiate that in order to raise his /her spirit ? Is there any way at all to distinguish between spiritual and corporeal low states and their causes? Or is that irrelevant because it only depends on how it feels internally and how to „get back“ on the spiritual path? I understand, corporeal life should not really have a place in spiritual work, thatś why I wonder how to distinguish these states.
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