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[Anonymous]

To summarize, I believe all is already balanced, and this recent series of discussions was a lesson to teach us this. We were simply not seeing it that way. There is no need for anybody to change anything about themselves. They must learn to preserve the balance within themselves. Why were some of us irritated? Because we saw people kissing arse and following a clique mentality. It was but an illusion. We all have free will and can say or do what we want with it, regardless. When we choose to let another's words affect us, it's our problem, not theirs. In this mess of illusions of the world, it is our job to find reality.

[Anonymous]

I know what you're probably thinking- What IS the reality? Well, that's not for us to tell each other. It is something we must figure out on our own, lest we pay the karmic consequences of interfering with another's free will.

The summary: Carry on.

[Fat_Turkey]

Thanks it really cleared up things a lot.

Later
-FT

[Lysear]

Timeless, that was a good post, I understand what you are saying.

[James S]

Great post Timeless! Real good thinking stuff this!
Had I not been away for the last few days, I could have got the jump on some of these really good responses posted by others. Oh my poor bruised ego![]

After reading through the other posts I'll see if I can avoid repeating the words of others in my thoughts:

Yes I agree that the wise are aware of their egos and have learned to remove it from their words. This really does depend on how you define "ego" though. I see ego as being a hinderence, a selfishness that requires your needs and opinions to be set above those of others. I see ego as being anti self-confidence. The less self confidence or self assurance someone has, the more they are prone to being controlled by ego.

An active ego will tend not to permit someone from seing a point of view that contradicts their own. Stubbornness is another facit of egotism. Wisdom stops the ego from controlling ones perspective and allows openess towards the thoughts of others.

I'd just like to say that I have absolutely NO ego, and I'm Damn PROUD of it!! []

From Proverbs - "wisdom is few when words are many".
Solomon was considered to be the wisest of all men who lived. He was very critical of those who had trouble holding their tongues. It seems the more people are talking, the less they are thinking about their words.

The wise tend to listen more than they speak.
How many times have you encountered the situation where someone (let's say ME, cause I've certainly been guilty of this) has been so busy prepairing in their mind exactly what they're going to say to you in response, that they haven't heard a word you've said.

I really liked Jilola's point # 5. They're good words!!!
It's for exactly this reason I highlited the word "opinion" so much in a reply post to the topic I started about the quality of recent posts. Yeah, really thought I did a good job on that one.... hehehe... down ego, DOWN!![]
It was my very clever wife that really woke me up to this one. Opinins are only that - opinions. It isn't THE truth, it mightn't even be A truth, it's an opinion. Nothing to start a war over.

Wisdom to all...
James.

P.S. Timeless,
Your last illustrations on this topic were VERY good!

[James S]

Hello Timeless,

Yes I can clearly see your perspective on this. Your explainations are clear and well written.
An illusionary separation from our Source brought on by our immersion in the material world - it does make sense. I had not considered this concept before.

I have always looked upon ego as being a negative influence. I would have considered our uniqueness to be more a function of personality than ego. Though my ego is still something that I consider needs to be carefully held in check, I feel that there is perhaps a necessary element to it that makes up an essential part of my personality. Maybe it is not entirely negative after all.

Thank you for the thoughts.
James.

[timeless]

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