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Control
your Emotions and Ego |
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| EGO |
| The
petty obstinate egoism behind the mask of human personality is one
of the biggest hurdles to overcome, for it veils the divine Self,
supports surface thoughts, and perpetuates its own habitual feelings
and actions. Too often a student says he wants to study and practice
meditation, yet he is unwilling to eradicate the lower nature and
change old habits. Clinging to them, he refuses even to admit the
need for change. |
It is
not easy to change deeply ingrained habits, and the sincere beginner
often feels helpless against them. Regular Sadhana, untiring selfless
service, association with spiritually minded people and strong determination
to eradicate egoism develop a powerful but selfless will. |
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The
transmutation of lower nature to higher nature demands full and
heart-felt dedication. To make the transition to the highest goal,
a willingness to surrender the ego is needed. |
The
ego cherishes its own ideas and impulses, and refuses to follow
beneficial instruction. Dissimulation, hypocrisy, exaggeration and
secretiveness are the traits of a dominant ego. Not knowing what
he means and not meaning what he says, he is too self-willed and
self-satisfied to see the error of his ways. Power, name, fame and
wealth, which strengthen and reinforce the ego, are all renounced
and sacrificed by the serious aspirant. For Westerners who are taught
to revere individuality, the need to surrender the ego is especially
difficult to understand. |
EMOTIONS |
| Of
all the emotional barriers the most devastating is anger, the greatest
enemy of peace, for it is the most negative. The mind then becomes
confused, memory and understanding are lost, and things are said
and done without awareness or control. Anger does great damage to
one’s own physical and psychic bodies, as well as those of
others. The whole nervous system is shattered by one fit of anger.
Occasionally a spiritual teacher expresses a little anger outwardly
in order to correct a student, but this should not be confused with
an emotional outburst. |
Anger
is very difficult to control when it has been allowed to grow and
become habitual. It is mush more easily controlled when it is a
small ripple in the subconscious mind. One should watch the mind
carefully for any signs of irritability; then control is no problem.
Just as heat and light can be transformed into electricity, anger
can be transformed into spiritual energy. |
Anger
gains strength with repetition, and in checking it one gradually
strengthens the will. The practice of meditation itself helps to
eliminate the cases of anger. Always speak moderately, and if there
is a possibility of a burst of anger during conversation, stop speaking
and do something else. Drinking cool water or taking brisk walks
are excellent aids in combating the onslaught of anger, as is mouna,
the practice of maintaining silence for long periods of time. |
Fear
is the most debilitating emotion. The student must always be willing
to risk everything including his very life in the quest for spiritual
perfection. Timidity makes one absolutely unfit for the spiritual
path. Fear manifests in many shapes, such as: fear of death, fear
of disease, fear of solitude, fear of company. Taking hold of the
mind, imagination works havoc and makes one prey to all sorts of
fear. |
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