EGO’S TRIAD  #5

DESIROUS ATTACHMENT 

Keep to the source of living waters.
Do not think to store in cisterns; they will break and crumble and the water will be lost.
Cup your hands and drink deeply and often and you will have health and joy.

When we cross over to the 'other side' we take nothing with us. All we take are our experiences and our karma. Material attachments can also hamper the soul’s journey during transition after death causing the spirit to either become earth bound (lost between the worlds) or to inherit a lower vibration in the Astral.

On the other side of the veil everything we acquire will be scrutinized against the polarities of need and want. We release more spiritual energy if we get rid of clutter. Every now and then we need to look through our belongings and make sure that energetically, that they belong to us and we do not belong to them. If one has not thought of or used anything in the last few years, give it away, sell or dump it. I am always surprised at how much lighter and freer I feel when I clean house. 

There is nothing wrong with desire, it is the attachment to desire that is the issue. 

It is the want that is our enemy and not the need.

Steve Jobs once instructed his employees that their task at Apple was not to give people what they needed but to tell them what they wanted. Many bottom liners follow this mantra. 

 It can be challenging not to be overwhelmed and trapped by the allure of materialism and all those new, shiny, compelling commodities that inundate us. They are designed to wear out more quickly than previously and be replaceable rather than fixable - the latter often being more costly. Planned obsolescence has been taken to a much higher level of sophistication. The excuse is the ever ongoing, so called improvement of technology. Is this just a trap to give us less control and make us lazy or possibly technology for the sake of technology alone rather than practicality? 

We may be compelled to buy the latest version and dispose of the older one because the new is contrived to be sexier but not necessarily any better and sometimes worse. It may be good to be aware that we are being manipulated to continually buy, even borrow to purchase and spend more money than we should.

"Use it up, wear it out. Make it do or do without" Unknown

'Fast fashion' is now prevalent because of compelling, cheap clothing mainly from China. It is often worn only a few times and then hopefuly donated rather than discarded or forgotten.

“Where there is too much, something is missing. - Chassidic Saying.
Yes, the disguise of plenty. The Grail is not there.”
Gene Kelly

When we have not earned or worked hard for our money, Kabbalah talks of The Bread of Shame… If we have too much while others have little we may feel somewhat shameful. Those that are fortunate to have a lot can make use of this bread of shame, by becoming philanthropic and giving some of it away, preferably doing so anonymously.

We should be attached to our spiritual transformation and all that is involved in our Becoming but not to 'stuff'. 

Consumerism by default, often occurs at the expense of the planet's sustainability. 

As a surgeon I have witnessed the astronomical increase of disposable and costly products. When I first began my surgical career the instruments we used were durable and were sterilized. These have now become disposable ? on the pretext of defects in sterilizing creating legal action as well as them having possible subtle improvements in performance. There should be a creative way around this but the market always bends toward profit. There are times when disposable instruments are essential for various reasons.

Expiration dates on medications seems to be getting slowly shorter and shorter. Pharmaceutical companies would not spend money on researching expiration dates especially when they benefit from making them shorter. Under controlled conditions the military is storing drugs for emergencies since they are effective and safe.

“By attributing worth to tangible objects man becomes attracted to them; attraction brings desire for them; desire leads to competition and dispute. These create anger and the result is delusion. Delusion completely overcomes man’s sense of right and wrong.” Srimad Bhagavatam

The more "stuff' we accumulate the more time, money and energy we spend maintaining it rather that doing something meaningful for our spiritual growth. Too many possessions and clutter get in the way of our spiritual work. 

There is always enough as long as one is free from the compulsion for more. Narrow mind is about having – Spacious mind is about being.

K.I.S.S.

A good mantra for us all to follow.

Keep it Simple, Stupid

“Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill, keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt, chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench, care about people’s approval and you will be their prisoner...”  Tao Te Ching

Re  "... care about people’s approval and you will be their prisoner...” 

We should not concern ourselves about those who have much more than we do. 

“Should the other climber steal your sack and your purse and wax fat on the one and heavy on the other, you should pity him. The climbing will be harder for his flesh and the burden will make his way longer. And should you in your leanness see his flesh puffing upward, help him in a step, it will add to your swiftness.” Unknown

Many of us feel we need to keep up with the Jones'. Ego can make us inherently more competitive in order to impress or prevent feeling like a loser. This is often because of a delicate ego and a feeling of inferiority. 

“Everybody feels inferior in some way or other. And the reason is that, we don’t accept that everybody is unique. There is no question of inferiority or superiority. Everybody is just one of his/her kind - comparison does not arise.
The moment you accept yourself as you are, without any comparison, all inferiority, all superiority, disappears. In that total acceptance or yourself you will be free from these complexes - inferiority, superiority. Otherwise you will suffer your whole life....


Just be yourself, that is enough… Osho

God wants you, to be truly you. You were created for that.

 

EGO’S TRIAD  #4

DESIROUS ATTACHMENT & NON-ATTACHMENT

You cannot control results, only your actions. 

You cannot decide outcomes, only your choices. So, it is best that you practice non-attachment to any concern related to outcome.

There is nothing wrong with desire, it is attachment to object of our desire which has karmic implications. We can have stuff but stuff should not have us.

“Give up owning things and being somebody. Quit existing.” Rumi

Attachment vs. Non-Attachment

Attachments will embrace those who cling to ego. Attachments to things are often extensions of one's persona. We should be attached to our spiritual life rather than any inanimate object.

Steve Jobs once was quoted as saying that their mission at Apple was not to give folks what they needed but what they wanted. With Apple's amazing technology, especially when he was alive, Jobs created a kind of cult. Its 'members' held onto every promise of 'want' and he delivered. He changed the world, however, not always for the good. He fulfilled the attachments of so many people all over the world.

“Wants, needs and necessities have different characteristics. It is the want that is our enemy, not the need and necessity.” Sri Swami Rama

Non-attachment and realizing the nature of impermanence of all things is key in helping us to subordinate ego to the Higher Self. Everything around us is in the process of being broken. Attachments will also hamper our crossing of the veil between the worlds during the dying process. It can cause one to remain earth bound.

Keep to the source of living waters. Do not think to store in cisterns for they will break, and crumble and the water will be lost...

One Buddhist practice involves developing a painstaking, sand painting. Over a significant period of time a stunning art piece manifests only to be destroyed to emphasize the importance of impermanence. We cannot take anything with us at the end of days, and except for our karma we go naked and alone.

One day the people came to the master and asked: “How can you be so happy in a world of such impermanence where you cannot protect your loved ones from harm, illness and death.” The master held up a glass and said. Someone gave me this glass and I really like this glass. It holds my water admirably and glistens in the sunlight. One day the wind may blow it off the shelf or my elbow may knock it off the table. I know this glass is already broken so I enjoy it incredibly.” Achaan Chah Stab

“A net is spread out for the living (the net of temptations to the ego that resides in a sensory body) and everything is given on loan...(impermanence).” Rev Akiva

Many of the challenges we face arise out of our sentient existence and the temptations of being in a sensory body. When we leave for the "Elsewhere" we lose the sensory body. We are born again and again (the continual wheel of samsara) because of the mishandling of our sentient bodies and our desirous attachments. We are here to enjoy things fully, but responsibly, recognizing they cannot last.

Detachment is not the same as non-attachment. Detachment is resignation - resigning to one's fate or something else. Resignation is a giving up as opposed to surrender which is a giving in to something bigger and more important than one’s little self. Surrender in spiritual terms is not waving the white flag when one is losing the battle. Surrender is going with the flow, letting go, connecting with one's higher consciousness. It is connecting with the 'Field', the Creator and one's guides. Its about hope, trust, belief and not hopelessness, defeat, denial, desperation. Above all its about trust in a Greater Power.

 

Concerning detachment, one of its paths leads to a lifeless world without enthusiasm or hope, a place of indifference where one could become ensnared in hidden traps of dejection and despair, where one no longer cares to love nor dares to trust. 

In a commodity filled world governed by big money we may not be in control of our lives. Our desirous attachments are manipulated to make us want things There is always a more sexy car, more compelling fashion, a more powerful and faster computer or smart phone to tempt us. These objects, though often seductive, also get more complicated, more difficult to repair and more expensive. We are going back to planned obsolescence as well as 'fast fashion' in clothing. Some folks do not even wear the new articles out but quickly buy the more compelling latest design. Often its more expensive to fix commodities like washing machines or dish washers than to replace them. Cars are increasingly costly. Moreover, instead of having a simple key or headlight, engineers substitute an electronic device or a complicated LED headlight - both exorbitant when they need to be replaced - and they are both bound to break or be lost.

“More possessions - more worry. More generosity - more peace. There is nothing wrong with possessions, only to being possessed by them.” Hillel

 

EGO’S TRIAD  #3

sELF-CHERISHING

"... If you can empty your 'boat' crossing the river of the world, no one will opposes you, no one will seek to harm you." Lao Tsu

The following are all aspects of self-cherishing's grooming of the persona.

PRIDE

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

"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

Fame can put one-self above others and has no place in spiritual transformation.

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 famous and a saint. She became it while not seeking sainthood.

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

Its a sad state of affairs when we hear the media acknowledging some toxic celebrity's demise instead of someone like Gandhi who may have died 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 Dickinson

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

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 to reconcile with our karma, there will be a reckoning for our self-cherishing.

“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.

 In seeking fame, honor will be lost …” Hillel

POWER

can be part of fame or rather infamy and will be discussed later under judgment.

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

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 path of the Buddha is as an example.

KNOWLEDGE

When the Ancestors say with all your strength get knowledge they are talking about knowledge that serves our spiritual path or others and not self-cherishing. 

For some, the certificates, trophies and accolades, beautifully displayed, are usually to do with aggrandizement of their personas. The same can be true if displayed on a bumper sticker where pride in their child's achievements are projected as part of their own.

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 only the hollow sound of one's 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 itself when displaying more knowledge than others.

… 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 is not to be equated with virtue.