The self destruct sequence (Properly ordering the ego in our lives)
Sweet mocha mama was belting out Janis this morning while making the rounds of the social media venues she subscribes to, across the room I sat doing pretty much the same, (making the rounds that is). Janis Joplin, what a tragic yet typical tale of woe, tragic because to die so young and not feel the inklings of resolve that wait for those that hold out for the final curtain, rightly ordered, age is the salve to appease our haunted souls. Typical because on our obtuse revolving orb its occuring albeit sans-celeb on a daily basis.
That menacing progenitor of all we envision ourselves to be. The Ego. erroneously ordering the chaos which is our lives, happily, willingly and on occasion forcefully stepping up to champion the task on our behalf. Our Ego. How many would delegate this role willingly if they knew the Ego’s prime directive was to die as quickly and efficiently as possible? To die, for the Ego is victory, to die is the culmination of all its efforts successfully implemented to perfection. Scary isn’t it! But true.
Who is this veritable enigma to all who muse on its definitive reality? Is it the age old serpent of Genesis 3:1? Yes. That which the Greeks refereed to as Daemon? Yes. In Christianity, the self we must willingly lay down to obtain eternal life? Yes. Actually it is the play-toy of every ponderer, philosopher, writer, ad-nauseum up-to and including the current malaise of dysfunction we know of today as the field of psychology. Psychology an entire field of science devoted to an illusive entity that is as unique as each individual, and yet, as common as the human race itself.
Volumes could be written on its (the ego) chaotic role in the eb and flow of evolutionary man, but for know I would like to digress and return to the sad and unfortunate example of Janis Joplin. From a biographical account Janis was as typical as they come, typical that is,when it comes to the percentile that formulates most of the artists, musicians ,writers history records and the millenniums shroud in obscurity. In my journey through the footage available through the awesome vehicle of archival wizardry better know as Youtube, you could see the hallmarks of a ego-run-a -muck efficiently at work in Janis’s life. And I encourage you to check them out (see the links attached to this blog) What is particularly sad is that this immense talent was so short lived. The Ego at this point will be quick to point out that “It was exactly this tortured existance that created the passion that would become the music” But the truth is the talent of the artist created the music, the tortured existance? a craftily devised subliminal reflection of a juxtaposed duet being sung by dueling ego’s, yours and hers.
You truly are a cruel man, you who would take our rightful and justifiably earned suffering away, decries the Ego! Weep not for the awakened but for those that still sleep. There is an interesting exchange that goes on in Christian literature between Jesus and Satan in this triune volley the exchange begins Matthew 4:1-11 (1) In the formless expanse of our consciousness (desert) the ego often antagonistically challenges us with the postulation:”If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” (basically the ego is asserting) If there is anyone else running this show, then by all means let him (figuratively) take over. Well! I’m waiting… Against such a landscape, and in absence of the awareness of your true nature, you can but only succeed the throne to its rightful owner (The Ego) Wherein the awakened would simply respond: “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” In life there is no road-map, There is a beginning and an End, and in between there is you! That is not cruelty nor ambiguity but truth. A fresh canvas set upon a hill for you to paint your impression of the experience. Where ever that journey takes you through what ever sufferings tribulations, jubilation’s and triumphs nothing is ordered by you but merely recorded by you. The Ego would have you paint a much different picture. It would replace your brush with a weapon and pit you against the world, and fetter you with its weight, and against such darkness how could your meager light withstand? The next time you walk into a star lit night find the tiniest obscure star in the sky behind that faint glimmer hundred’s of light years away rests a giant of enormous potential, you are that giant. Far greater than the ego would have you believe. Janis could convey that in her ability and talent, but could not un-throne the beast.
(2) In our triune exchange we find Satan with the taunt: [Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. {6} “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”] How easy does the Ego cry fowl when the crystal palace it creates gets cracked obscured or comes crashing down. And as if anywhere, by any standard at anytime it was decreed that a life equals this and anything less is injustice. Jesus responded though it is written: “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Life, for all its unpredictability, hardship, seeming injustice, and ecologic harshness is life. The illusions fabricated over the millenia to placate these seeming injustices are the illusion. The illumination and elevation of consciousness is attained when we no longer harbor these illusions.
And finally (3) Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. {9} “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” History well records the Bacchanalian excesses of the roman era, the bourgeois extravagances prior to the french revolution, and the frenzy of illusioned wealth in the nineteen twenties, just to name a few. The abandoning of self and the supplanting of self interest has more than amply demonstrated the result of self will run riot. Never in the history of man has that been so evident as in today’s society. Why? “All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me” The sad reality is; it was already yours all that was asked of you was to seek first the wisdom to appreciate it, the benevolence to administrate it wisely and the willingness to understand its temporal existance and nature. Jesus responded: Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” {11} Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Satan has indeed placed the ultimate barrier in the minds of modern man. For the modern man demands “Show me, give me, prove to me, and I shall believe.” wherein the truth of illumination comes when you indeed seek first the kingdom, accept first, on faith the truth, then all else shall be added unto you.
Matth 6:32-34 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.
Now Christianity does not hold exclusive rights to this ideology. One of my favorite Sufi parables is about a wealthy king, who on a summer evening decided to go for a walk through the local streets of his city. He happened upon a young naked boy playing in an alley-way. as he approached the young boy he noticed he had arranged many stones in a circle. Inquisitively he asked the young boy what they represented, he replied these are my subjects and I am their King. The King taken with benevolent humility took off his royal cloak offered it to the young boy saying “Then such a fine King should have a fine robe. No sir, was the boys response “For then I shall not be king”. Seek first the kingdom of heaven… and where is it found? … Within.
I have loved Janis Joplin since my musical interests first surfaced. Listened to her pound out countless soul intoxicating melodies, I will never tire of. I just wish I could have seen her grow gracefully over the ages, as I have seen so many other pop icons grow. But the Ego is a formidable opponent, we will most likely never meet an individual who has the capacity to manipulate us, the way our Ego’s can and do. If there ever was a challenge presented an individual, especially in today climate, mastery of the ego has to be top of the list. But it is a soul journey, one that can not be approached in a laissez faire fashion. Nor can it be fast tracked or skimmed over. The apostle Paul quoted from Philippians 2:12 stated
Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Now to those that have issues with the concept of God, or reference to the bible as a form of legitimate discourse in human evolution, I would say to you address the issues you have with rightly ordering the place of Ego in your lives, and you will then find that your tolerance for scriptural associations will expand dramatically, as will it in many other facets of your life.
When individuals learn to manage themselves (and there are many selves to us), when they do this, even in this basic fundamental step, a life altering mechanism is set in place. When the Ego is dismantled into the sum of its parts, we empower ourselves for greatness. We acknowledge our state of mind, and then we choose to alter it. We are no longer at the mercy of our emotional states, we are the manager of them. Certainly not perfect, always a work in progress, but an individual engaged in the activity of evolutionary growth, not a simply a twig on the evolutionary tree being tossed to and fro by the winds of emotion, at the whim of the Ego. That is the challenge, the reward the kingdom laid before you. Not the emperor presenting his new clothes, But the little child in no need of them.
Thank you for listening and God bless you Janis where ever you are playing now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvipz47v8nQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz6ZjPrNr6Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZObx8wt1SM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhBFRNBxT_o
