by Nityananda Atman
A false belief or opinion
cannot necessarily create suffering by itself. The suffering is directly
created by the ego in the form of anger, hatred, resistance, fear etc.
For example, you may have
different opinion than me about the nature of ego. So you may not accept as
true what I say here. This cannot create suffering neither to you, nor to me if
we have eliminated in us the egoic qualities of superiority, inferiority, fear,
anger, jealousy, hatred, etc. We can be happy even if we have different
opinions.
Religion
beliefs also cannot
by themselves cause suffering. Only the ego can create problems and
suffering
using religious dogmas and principles for its own satisfaction. Ego is
always insecure and beliefs give to it some kind of illusory safety
Ego likes also to use opinions,
beliefs etc. to create separation and suffering because through this it can
survive in us and continue its games for pleasure, power, fame, name,
comforts and superiority.
Judgments and criticism to
others is also one of the favorite games of ego. These do not happen due to a
false belief or opinion, but because of ego’s desires for comfort, pleasure, position,
fame and money, insecurity, inferiority, low self-confidence, jealousy, etc.
For example if we desire what our friend or neighbor has or what they have achieved, the ego because of jealousy or envy can criticize or make judgments to them.
For example if we desire what our friend or neighbor has or what they have achieved, the ego because of jealousy or envy can criticize or make judgments to them.
By
criticizing others the ego has an illusory sense that it is superior to
them. This way the ego tries to overcome the insecurity and the
inferiority that feels. Judgment gives to ego an
illusory pleasure and a sense of superiority and importance. Ego likes
very
much to experience these feelings.
The ego is our true enemy
The ego is our true enemy
There is no enemy outside of
us. Our real enemy is within us, it is the lust-made ego which creates
confusion and chaos within and without.
Kill this enemy by the sword
of discernment, non-attachment, prayer, self-control, vigilance, japa-nama, self-enquiry,
meditation, and love for the divine.
More about ego see:
- What ego really is
- Enquiry into the nature of ego
- Vital, emotions and compulsive thinking
- FREEDOM from DESIRE the origin of ego
- The pairs of opposites
- Conscious freedom from Pleasure & Pain
Peace love harmony