The Ego

[David_McQueen]

Do you ever get the feeling that sometimes here we have an issue with ego?

I got to thinking that I always talk out loud and post my points and am convinced of some things, but in the face of opposition sometimes it is my ego that gets in the way of my listening.

Does anyone else ever have that or sense that?

[Dr. Shane]

Ego is another name for self and IT is our problem.

[Nicodema]

I think everything is a two-way street. Even scripture portrays human relationships as "taking two to tango". For example, "Children obey your parents" is right next to "fathers, provoke NOT your children to anger." I think there's a valuable lesson here.

I believe people can and do provoke and annoy others on purpose, knowing full well they are doing so, or at least refuse to cease and desist when it is pointed out to them that they are doing so. The fault is not entirely with the self, else the fault would simply be one of HAVING a self AT ALL, and we all have one. The fault is equally with those who vex, irritate and annoy.

I look at it this way. There's a demon out there, let's say, and that demon is responsible for doing a bunch of nasty little things. But that demon must be called up first by a sorcerer or he has no place to act out. The "ego-reacting" self is like the demon but the person button-pushing and provoking is like the sorceror. The demon would not be an issue without the sorceror to call it up.