Let's look at something interesting on the spiritual path.
First, ego itself seeks the spiritual path. If it really knew better, ego, itd avoid it altogether, cause getting on the spiritual path, means its own death. It fools itself into the whole thing, for numerous reasons.
But one of them is because somewhere, either in childhood or even in early adulthood, it realizes that death doesn't just happen to other people, it can happen to us. Death becomes some realization, which causes the ego to worry, panic.
It could be a close relative dying, a friend, or a sudden brush with death. But something may occur where physical death is a reality.
Other reasons - its own 'fate' in an afterlife. Okay, now Ive got the idea that death is imminent. Im not going to live in the physical world forever. Everything dies. My pet died when I was four. My mom when I was 23. I know oneday I will too. Where do I go, later, if anywhere at all?
Ego runs around looking for answers because its unsure of this, and wants to ensure its survival. Its told there's a heaven, a hell. Its told there's rebirth and reincarnation. There's a possibility of immortality! Hey cool! I get on the spiritual path, not only can I ensure my survival, I can even attain a better life here, maybe, and then an even better afterlife, so I can go on, whoo whee!
However, then ego, reaches a standstill. It hears about, ego death, and it has to be eliminated. It begins to be examined. It reads and reads about ego having to be taken out of the equation and stands like a deer in headlights "huh?" And this is the icing on the cake, the grand poo baaaaaaaa of all time. It "ego" searches for "ego" to go take an axe to and cut off from itself and make sure, this 'other ego' doesnt get in the way.
And yet, alas, its all ego.
That might be what KW was saying about the 'closed loop.' That lanky bald man is right. Ego is a closed loop, and what can break the barrier to our ego.
Firstly, truth itself gives ego a jolt. When our egos are faced with an undeniable truth, one that is solid, there is no arguing back with truth. So when it falls into the pool of truth, it drowns itself in it, whether it likes it or not.
Truth, another truth, is we all have an ego. Lets get past the 'word' ego. Weve come to label the thing. E-G-O. We see it, we think of it as a three letter word that begins with an 'e.' Take out the 'e' and put in a 'd' its god. But the D is for death, to be god realized, etc, got to take out the e which stands for ego, cut it off, stick in a d for death, then we have god, and nothing else, nothing more.
Thats the difficult part. Ego cannot slay ego. Thats stupid. Only God can.
So, you're far along the path enough, cause you're on a spiritual path, you've heard of the ego. You know pretty much what it means. But how can you know for certain, that ego is in charge, or not? And how sure are you, that you've fooled yourself, or not?
Ego is the part of us which initially steps on the spiritual path. Everyone's egos takes the first step, wears the shoes. But the last step, doesn't belong to the ego. The step out of the loop of madness, off the wheel, wont be it, no matter what.
Always too late to turn back - that is the way it goes.
