I remember back when I was in college, a friend of mine was fortunate enough to be able to afford a brand new BMW 3-series. He was so proud of that car. For him, it was a source of inspiration indeed. And on many levels, I envied him. Although, I had a car, it was a simple Toyota that is no longer sold in the U.S. I can still remember when he first bought that BMW. He used to say he no longer had to work for girlfriends. “I just sit back and let the car do the talking,” he used to proclaim. All of his value and self-esteem was wrapped up in that car, and the attention it brought to him. I think we all know people who operate this way. In fact, many of us probably operate as such. Our self worth or how we see ourselves is painfully intertwined with what kind of car we drive, what part of town we live in, or where we work. Spiritually, this is a flaw brought on by the presence of none other than our egos.
Now, the ego is a tricky thing. In many ways, it gets a bum rap because we associate a variety of negative behaviors with it. But there is a reason for the ego’s existence. It actually serves multiple purposes, one of which is to protect us. Why and what do we need protection from you might ask? From ourselves, from each other, and from the environment.
Not too long ago, a friend of mine asked, “Why are we born into lives so full of pain and suffering? What is it all for?” Back when he asked, I didn’t know the answer to these questions, but I do now. Human life is so terribly precious because it is the vehicle to achieve enlightenment. Through our physical forms, we are spiritually enabled to grow and to evolve. Other animals don’t have this ability, but we do and how precious it is. One function of the ego is to keep us aware of this fact. The ego gives us drive for “self-preservation.” Sadly, this reality has become veiled to many of us. Even though we have this incredible capability to become enlightened, we waste entire lifetimes on nonsensical things.
Just the other day, I learned of a new innovation developed by Volvo. It is a radar guided collision warning, where the car’s computer will cause it to brake (independently of the driver) if a collision is imminent. The feature does not drive the car, but it can take control of the brakes in a dangerous situation. Knowing how precious life is and that it shouldn’t be wasted, the ego was designed to offer similar protection. If a figurative collision is imminent, the ego will apply the brakes. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, the ego assumed a larger role, taking control of critical decisions. In essence, what was designed as a safety feature is now “controlling” the vehicle. When this happens, the outcome is almost certainly never good. The ego was not designed to be behind the wheel and is an awful decision maker. It will always choose selfishly. After all, this is part of its self-preservation function. The problem is when we allow it to control how we operate in society, we will always display behavior, which is dangerously self-centered and egocentric. As such, we will often be at odds with the people around us. Our nature will be competitive, not compassionate. And our lives will be full of suffering and misery.
Don’t let the ideas behind Darwinism fool you. Man’s true nature is not survival of the fittest, or to kill or be killed. When we understand how precious life is, and what life is there to accomplish, we become filled with compassion. Our desire is to share and to help each other. These attributes come easily when our egos are held to their original purpose. When these realizations are veiled, and the pursuits of the ego become commonplace, then our minds become clouded with confusion, and riddled with defilements.
Over the next couple of posts, I will discuss some of these defilements and how they arise from our unbridled egos.
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