Ego, Friend or Foe?

In reading about great spiritual masters I found they share one thing -- they have mastered their egos.

This is primarily what people noticed about Ma.

But most psychologists say we need to have a strong ego or sense of self to cope with the trials and tribulations of life, and to keep people from "walking all over us."

At the same time, it's obvious that conflicts between people and even countries often come down to ego-centered, "my way vs. your way" disagreements.

Maybe the two very different sides of the ego question can be reconciled in this way: the human ego is important up to a certain point in our spiritual development but beyond that it can cause us and those around us problems.

In case you want to read up on this, let me suggest a couple short books:  The Impersonal Life, and Love Without Conditions — Reflections of the Christ Mind.

The ideas they espouse can play havoc with personal egos.  But according to spiritually advanced people, this is a necessary step in spiritual development.

 - The Irreverent Reverend 

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