THE THREE DEADLY SINS OF KARMA #2

EGO'S sELF CHERISHING (of the small self) 

The challenge is relief from ego, how to be free from its tyranny. 
The way is relief from ego, surrendering and releasing one’s instinct for protection and cultural conditioning; subduing its tyranny but with respectful and grateful acknowledgement for its appropriate worth.  
The "prize" - the place of arrival - is relief from ego and a true sense of the pleasure of its place.

Ego is our power center and how we make our way in the world. Ego's self-cherishing can comprise, arrogance, pride, prestige, opulence and fame.

Karma depends not only on what we do, but how we do it, why we do it and how we feel about it. If the last is grudgingly or if it benefits us only materially it may be karmically neutral or there could be a karmic consequence.

Determine well your heart’s desire for in releasing your intention its energy will affect its holiness or unholiness.

The Ancestors teach that ulterior motives are greatly under-rated. It is good to donate money in order to build a hospital or anything else that can help humanity but for karma's sake it should not be attached to an agenda. It is better to give charity – even if it is to get one's face in the media or for a tax deduction - than not to give it, but the act may not have spiritual merit depending on the intent. It should be given anonymously or, better still, instead of giving a person a fish, rather teach him or her how to fish.

All must be done for its own sake, not for reason of an outcome.  All is a journey not a destination and it is a continual arriving.

We need to do things for their own sake and not because of any ego driven agenda – hidden or not. If rewards were always immediate there might be a huge incentive to always perform correctly because of the gratification we would expect from our actions. We would be no better than anyone driven by a Pavlovian response.

The results of cause and effect (karma) are often not immediate because they would influence free will. The Creator wants us to do things for the right reasons, not out of fear and shame or because of what may result, but out of justice and love.

Ego is slippery, it is like a chameleon, always changing colors or shape shifting to disguise itself. The higher we get up the energy hierarchy the more devious Ego becomes. It is supported by the Shadow, Monkey Mind and our Tricksters who will play on our weaknesses. 

“The Light of lights looks always on the motive, not the deed… the shadow of shadows, on the deed alone.” W.B. Yeats

The light of lights is our inclination to do good and there are spirit forces outside of us that seek the same on our behalf. The shadow of shadows is our evil inclination. Our own inner light and our dark sides are affected by those light and dark forces on either side of the veil between worlds. These are operating in opposition either to subordinate, or to enhance Ego and these compounding negative inclinations. We should also remember that the imprint of our soul's "Store Consciousness" is also operating in the background of our subconscious. The challenge is always more complex than just the Ego alone.

Yeats recognizes the “enlightened” implications of doing things for their own sake which is a Higher Self, Good Inclination, Spacious Mind motivation. If its for the deed alone, it may for be a self-cherishing, ego-bound, narrow minded agenda related to our shadow or evil inclination. Karma dictates we do things for their own sake and the means never justifies the end.

God does not measure results, only the trueness of intent and the fervor of effort. This is why there is such joy in daring one’s best.

 

If God were after numbers he would have made the way to Him abundantly apparent and attractive – enticingly so, ego free and forever lasting. And of course, S/He has also granted us our own lens for seeing and our own will for choosing what we see.

Humility, Modesty

"Don't be so humble, you are not that important." Unknown

We needs to first have a level of self-mastery and hubris to be able to merit any ability to be humble. Renunciation is easy when there is nothing much that we have earned to renunciate.

Kabbalah teaches that humility is truthful acknowledgement about the wonders of yourself, taking appropriate credit for your part but recognizing the Infinite One's gifts to you. 

Our task of course is to find and pursue those gifts, be it our core strengths or true destiny.

Modesty … has more to do with realizing how small the container is for the overwhelmingly great gift, yet trusting in God's offering and so accepting and using it without pretense.

True humility should make others know God better through you. One ought to marvel at what God can accomplish through you.

There are things that the Creator cannot do without our cooperation. We are here to co-create with the Divine's unlimited Intelligence with our own limited but potentially divinely inspired imaginative abilities. We should not hide our talents under a bushel. 

God gives the talent but He would not have an Antonio Stradivarius violin without Antonio's hands.” Stradivarius

It is easier to get ourselves and any sense of unworthiness out of the way if we use our gifts on behalf of others. That gift that is given is not about us but given so that we can benefit the planet.

"Just as its presumptuous to put ourselves above others, so it is pretentious to put ourselves below them." Unknown

“This is what God asks of you, only this, to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah

Pride 

“God cannot be realized if there is the slightest trace of pride.” Upanishads

"Pride comes before a fall."

"Until you empty yourselves of pride God cannot be realized."

Talmud

“There is no room for God in him who is full of himself. The sages tell us concerning the proud man; God says; “I and s/he cannot dwell together in the world.” Talmud

Fame versus Honor

As fame can enslave, so can the costs of money impoverish. Make sure the need is worth the price. To overpay can rob the Self.

Mother Theresa did not go to Calcutta to help the poor, sick and downtrodden to become a saint. She became one while not seeking sainthood.

Its a sad state of affairs when we hear the media celebrating some Rap artist's birthday instead of someone like Gandhi who was born on that same day.

Fame is a fickle food

Upon a shifting plate

Whose table once a

Guest but not, The second time is set.

Whose crumbs the crows inspect

And with ironic caw Flap past it to the Farmer's Corn 

– Men eat of it and die. Emily Dickenson

Fame is a bee. It has a song— It has a sting—Ah, too, it has a wing. Emily Dickenson

There are distinct karmic advantages to not being on top. Even if we are first and strive to stay there, it will not be long before someone else overtakes us or we are forgotten. When we pass over to the other side of the veil between worlds to reconcile with our karma, humility will be even more critical.

 

“Those that will be first will be last.” Jesus

 

Let them be king.

Let them come along and shout

- they will shout their name last.

 S/He who does good and does not pursue honor, him honor overtakes. 

In seeking fame honor will be lost …” Hillel

Wealth

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus

When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ And Jesus said, ‘With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 

There is nothing wrong with being wealthy but it can monopolize vital energy that could be devoted to a spiritual life. The opposite is also true. Wealth can give more opportunities for pursuing the Self as well as being philanthropic but it may require an element of renunciation - the Buddha is as an example.

Knowledge

Those who exploit knowledge are lost to wisdom. Wisdom is born of humility and is nourished by compassion. It is grace in action. When knowledge is used for self-gain and control it is conceit in action.

If study and prayer do not serve justice and mercy they are but  the hollow sound of one's own arrogance. 

Truth can be ego clinging to its own image.

"Whoever undertakes to set himself as a judge of truth and knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods." Goethe

The self-Cherishing Persona revels in the same indulgences when ego is centered around having more knowledge than others.

When the Ancestors say with all your strength get knowledge they are talking about knowledge that serves your spiritual path and not the Ego. 

… in seeking knowledge wisdom may be forgotten.” Hillel

Information is not to be equated with knowledge, knowledge not to be equated with understanding, understanding not to be equated with wisdom and wisdom not to be equated with virtue.

Although Ego is necessary for our self-mastery and self-actualization there comes a time when it gets in the way of spiritual growth and Self-Realization. Attachments to Ego's self-Cherishing, Desirous Attachment or Judgment create karmic burdens. Being tied to these will guarantee more wasteful, future lifetimes where we come back to correct the errors of the past instead of going forward. 

Non-Attachment to ego is commendable. 

Attachment to ego will guaranty us more reincarnations. 

A path that is attached to pursuing a life that embraces spiritual transformation will bring happiness and inner wealth.