What is the Ego?
Our special theme says, “The ego is ‘proof’ that strength is weak and love is fearful, life is really death, what opposes God alone is true.”
In other words, the ego is “proof” that we are limited humans existing in a body in a world and destined to die.
What that means to me is that the ego is the source of doubt.
Do you ever experience doubt? Do you ever doubt that enlightenment is real? Do you ever doubt that eternal life is real? Do you ever doubt that you could awaken to truth beyond this world?
Fortunately, although we sometimes experience doubt, doubt isn’t all that is in our minds. There is also willingness; there may even be a longing to search for truth, possibly a longing so strong that it feels like a calling you can’t ignore.
Will we listen to the ego’s doubts and resign ourselves to the self and world that we are familiar with? Or will we follow our willingness, longing or calling, and engage in the spiritual practice that leads beyond the ego and its doubts?
How far are we willing to go in order to discover truth beyond the ego?
Forgiveness ends the dream of conflict here.
The prayer in today’s lesson says:
Father, forgiveness is the light You chose to shine away all conflict and all doubt, and light the way for our return to You. No light but this can end our evil dream. No light but this can save the world. For this alone will never fail in anything, being Your gift to Your beloved Son.
Forgiveness, as we have seen, is abiding as our unaffected Self. It’s often called being the observer or remaining in Presence.
Our lesson begins by saying, “Conflict must be resolved. It cannot be evaded, set aside, denied, disguised, seen somewhere else, called by another name, or hidden by deceit of any kind…”
What is the difference between abiding as the unaffected Self and falling for habits like evasion, setting aside, denying, etcetera?
How can we abide as the unaffected Self when we feel affected by something or someone?
Consider asking one of these questions, or a similar question, and writing to realize helpful clarity about abiding as the unaffected Self. Any clarity you receive will help, especially if you are going through the purification stage right now.
Meditation Options
