Our big mistake about the nature of Ego

I do not think that is superstitious or naïve to believe that evil works in the world or even that there is an entity (Satan, Ego, etc.) promoting evil and darkness.  I do think most attempts to react to evil are naïve, because they tend to give evil more power. 

Reaction is the fuel of darkness.  Once darkness has your attention and energy directed in response to it, there will not be room for light.  Our beginning Kabbalah teaching encourages us to “crush the ego.”  I think this is an unfortunate phrase, reinforcing a bad habit. 

Better to crush the protective shell around the ego, and then expose the ego for what it is, call it out to show itself and account for itself in the presence of light, truth, and awareness.  Darkness cannot persist in its present form in the presence of light. 

In humans, dark and light mix.  That is both our special genius and our burden.  We are advantaged when we do not simply pit light against darkness but develop an experiential awareness of the relationship between the two. 

Ask darkness in the spiritually confident presence of light, “What are you trying to do?”  “What do you serve?”  “Does your method have a chance of succeeding?”  

It is not the deepest nature of ego or darkness to oppose light, but quite the opposite.  Both are trying to emulate light, but in a self-centered way.  They want to become the origin of light unto themselves. 

In some very powerful way, ego admits the superiority of light or else why would it seek to emulate, usurp, and replace light’s function in our lives?  It’s trying to “do light one better.”  Ego says, “You are connected.  That’s easy.  I can create light in a disconnected state all by myself.”  

To this we can respond, “Oh really.  Do show me how!”  And guess what?  Each time ego fails!  Trying to buy love and happiness.  Fail.  Trying to coerce others into loving and respecting you.  Fail.  Trying to reach enlightenment by attaching to esoteric teachings? Fail.  Every time. 

The ego responds, “But wait, there is a way.  I just haven’t found it yet.  Bear with me, (and shroud yourself in fantasy and hope so you don’t get disillusioned and quit on me).”  But the ego’s methods are all just different forms of doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome. 

Ego cannot and does not deliver.  Like a brash child trying to prove something to its parents, allow it to attempt its best shot.  Thank ego for its efforts.  Do not admonish it.  Hold it, honor its struggle, and invite it on a journey into the realm of connection.  If it doesn’t want to come, simply say, “That’s okay, I’ll come back for you later if you change your mind.” 

Then “Love thy neighbor as thyself… Go and learn.”  Connect to the light and share the blessings with others, including your own ego.  Be always generous, always gracious, never stern.  Have confidence and abundance and faith in the power of light to transform whatever it touches, even the deepest darkness.