There is a lot written about the ego and how we have to try to ‘destroy’, ‘conquer’ or even ‘ignore it’. However the ego is an intricate part of us, it gives us self-esteem, self-importance, self-worth, self-respect, self-image, self-confidence - quite a few things really! So instead of trying to destroy it, why not try to work with it?
The ego has been with us a long time and when we react to something through anger or fear, it is usually just because the ego/personality is reacting in fear of its own annihilation. So the next time you do ‘anger‘ and then do ‘guilt‘ - immediately afterwards - give you and your ego a break and just decide to try and do better ‘next time’. The more you treat yourself and your ego with kindness, the easier life will become.
But what is the difference between ‘ego’ and ‘Ego’? There is so much discourse about the ‘ego/personality’ & ‘Ego/Higher-self’, so what do these words mean?
Different modalities have their own translation and I guess all are correct. However, I thought it might be good to bring forth the teachings and translations of the Kumara Centre, which follow the teachings of psychoanalysis and theosophy.
At the Centre - the word ego is understood in two ways:
The ego (small ‘e’) means the ego personality of the human being. This is the personality/character of each individual and it develops depending on the life, upbringing and environment that has been the most significant throughout life. It is this ‘ego aspect’ that is most likely to show our character:
Happy
Sad
Optimistic
Pessimistic
Positive character
Negative character
Do we take responsibly for our lives or do we blame others for our misfortune and always seem to be the victim? This use of the ‘ego’ is a common one in today’s society. I am sure we have all referred to someone as having a ‘big ego’.
The Ego (with a capital ‘E’) means the divine part of our beingness, the Spirit, the Atma - our Higher Soul/Self. When the Ego is in harmony with the lower parts of our personality, then ‘we humans’ are living a happy and contented life. Looked at in a higher sense, it is when the three vehicles, or the three lower Principles of Man (The physical body, emotional body and manas (Lower mind)) become aligned within the Causal Plane of existence that the harmony results.
Here is a brief explanation about the Planes of Existence: We humans live on the Physical Plane, emotions are associated with the Astral Plane and thoughts of a divine nature reside within the Causal Plane. Each plane has sub-levels and the higher sub-levels of the lower planes interpenetrate the lower sub-levels of the plane above.
The human, over many lifetimes, learns to perfect its physical body, through good eating and not overloading it with toxins. Then it gradually perfects the emotional body by trying not to be an emotional barometer, and attempting to have thoughts without judgment, criticism, envy or negativity.
Eventually, through many life-times, we move away from selfishness and greed to sharing and service. It is during these ‘transitional’ life-times that we start to be able to directly communicate with our Ego, or Higher-Self. This divine aspect of ourselves resides in the inner worlds, within the Causal Plane of Existence: The realm of the Angels of Light and the Masters.
You will note that we do not have to be ‘the perfect human’ to have a communication with the Ego. If we are trying to improve ourselves through truth and helping others, the channel to your Higher Self will open. Sure, we will make lots of mistakes, that is certainly allowed as we are only humans doing our best on a very difficult Plane of Existence.
Liz McCaughey is the founder of Kumara Meditation & Healing Centre in Perth, Western Australia (www.kumara.com.au). The centre offers deeper theosophical studies, meditation & healing, reiki, kabbalah and pranic healing. Since 2003 she has taught hundreds of people how to meditate from basic to advanced levels. Liz now focuses on teaching Pranic Healing and is a Direct Licensee for Western Australia for Grand Master Choa Kok Sui's Institute for Inner Studies based in Manila. Liz has a busy practice as an analytical psychotherapist and healing practitioner. She has a very practical approach to teaching and during her courses, she focuses on how her clients and students can take what they learn at Kumara and make it relevant to their every-day lives. This is particularly true of Liz's Metaphysical teachings, where no question about life goes unanswered. Liz organises many Free practice sessions for course graduates. This ensures that what has been learned is put into practical use. As a qualified psychotherapist, Liz appreciates how important it is that students are supported after their studies, and her professional training is evident throughout all of her courses. Liz is a trainer and practitioner of Pranic Healing in Australia and Hong Kong. She is also a mother, a successful business woman and has been fortunate enough to have been personally trained by Grand Master Choa Kok Sui.