Theos-Talk Archives (February 2004 Message tt00160)

Cream Stationery
Ego - the possesive self (esteem)

Give them what they expect, they will fall flat prostrate on your feet -
Give them what they don't expect - they will show hatred, more than a normal
guy will do. Their esteem will be balloon like - A small needle can prick it
and release the air, totally, Here, a small praise or a criticism is
sufficient to toss the guy off equilibrium. I would say it is a sort of
Kleptomania - the urge to get the recognition is so very high, because the
same was denied to the person, some time earlier in his life, that he goes
to the extent of stealing / exhibiting some trait, to get recognition ! The
noun that describes him the best is 'Egotist'.

Understand, buddy, that possesiveness is a poison tipped thorn ! And these
egotists possess themselves ! As Gita says, u r not ! u r just a shell
where the atma resides ! So, why crave for praise for a shell that is not
going to be after some time, just as rainbow ?? Get to realise that We are
none to be worshipped - as simple as that. V r not Jesus ! This will help u
move with people more easily. Next, please be informed that v r not above
criticism - as ordinary humans, v r prone to mistakes and are likely to get
criticised for the same by legitimate sect of homo sapiens and mocked at by
the illegitimate ! Both have to be accepted, buddy !
Get less possessive - & u become smarter, automatically, buddy !

Even otherwise, If u r Jesus, remember the treatment meted out to him - He
was crucified. Socrates was given Hemlock, Mohamed was pelted with
stones... All great men have suffered physically and all of them have
pardoned their detractors - because they knew and realised what was attacked
was just the shell of their atma and not their own selves !

Once u realise this fact, u sort of become, helpful, positive and
broadminded ! Never compare thyself with anyone - just say people are all
equals !

The deceptive life & people:

Just imagine - God keeps a veil close to our face that v r not allowed to
realise what is gonna happen the next second - Like the veil keeps moving
with u , allowing u only this second -if this feature is not there ... And
if hunger is also not there, if thy stomach is fitted with a feature that is
going to keep it satisfied, just as lungs r with air, that is available in
abundance, free of cost... u get to know what is going to happen to u, to
your son, grandson and the entire family cult - u simply rest and relax,
knowing that u can't change it. That is one reason why the future is hidden
and hunger is there. The life remains a mystery & humans have to run for
food, shelter & clothes & theosophists like us are interested in knowing
what life is, probably, because of the fact that life is an enigma !

Some people take pride in hiding their real self - sort of pose a divine
face with ego / anger within themselves, speak creamy language with literal
trash with themselves, a quiet, serene exterior with a violent interior,
some others pose a brave face with fear within themselves & it is so common
in India - They call it 'good management skill' - Some others quip that
being deceptive / a mystery / enigma is the best way to attract fellow
humans ! True ! But, a true theosophist will not crave for this (cheap)
recognition.

well, I have my own opinion on this - May b the second one is right - u
can't afford to expose 100 % of thy inner self, lest people feel bored and
leave u ! But then, is it not ego ? Is there no better way to do it? About
the former, the adamantly possesive persons of negative feelings / incidents
develop ego and call it valour / good management ! It is a sort of 'leading
by exhibitionism' !Any legitimate respect / recognition that u may get
possibly, will only be for your legitimate self - the remaining will be
illegitimate - those kudos will be to your illegitimate outer appearance/
exhibition - A duplicate respect for a duplicate appearance !

Genuineness of cause and effect (feeling and expression) - Emotional
intelligence !

A logical / regulated expression of your feelings is called emotional
intelligence ! The animal of man has an unique capacity to spot the
legitimate / genuine feelings / emotions of fellow humans and acknowledges
the expression of the same - even, if it is the wrong way. Tantrums for a
legitimate cause is acknowledged - wheras, a legitimate expression of a
duplicate feeling - something not in u - as if u were angry is shunned -the
animal perceives it as a gesture to grab the limelight. And remember, u
can't be a good manager / leader just by throwing tantrums.

Once a funny thing happened - a person on the street exclaimed that he
pardoned George Bush (for invading Iraq). There is some point in a lion
saying 'I forgive thee !' - If a hare does the same, it simply means that
it has resigned itself to fate - the criterion here is that despite having
strength / capacity to destroy, the lion does not do so - Forgiveness
requires that u b in a state / position of strength ! Does it mean that Bush
or the lion can do what they want & expect others to dance to their whims
and fancies ? Nay - there is a court of righteousness in every one - the
conscience & this will decide who is to forgive whom & a hare can forgive a
lion, if the lion errs - if, at all, there is a conscientous approach by
both lion and hare - But unfortunately, it is not so ! The lion takes
advantage of its physical strength, mostly ! Well, unfortunate - just as
'leading by exhibitionism'.

Raghu Seshadri.



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