It is reasonable to ask how the mind could ever have made the ego. ²In fact, it is the best question you could ask. ³There is, however, no point in giving an answer in terms of the past because the past does not matter, and history would not exist if the same errors were not being repeated in the present. (ACIM, T-4.II.1:1-3)
Ang ganda nung na-point out dito: the past doesn’t matter, basta hindi na uulitin sa present yung errors of the past.
At yung ego ay isang error that happened in our minds. Take note, in our minds only ha, not in reality.
Ego kasi is a false identity na separate from God, which is just an idea.
Yung true identity natin is of the spirit, na never mawawalay from God.
Everyone makes an ego or a self for himself, which is subject to enormous variation because of its instability. ²He also makes an ego for everyone else he perceives, which is equally variable. ³Their interaction is a process that alters both, because they were not made by or with the Unalterable. ⁴It is important to realize that this alteration can and does occur as readily when the interaction takes place in the mind as when it involves physical proximity. ⁵Thinking about another ego is as effective in changing relative perception as is physical interaction. ⁶There could be no better example that the ego is only an idea and not a fact. (ACIM, T-4.II.2:1-6)
Ayun nga, to reiterate yung previous statement natin: ego is just an idea, not a fact.
Kaya yung ego ay variable, ibig sabihin pabago-bago. Which is kabaliktaran ng fact na unalterable, meaning hindi pabago-bago.
Ganun rin yung pinagkaiba ng perception at knowledge, na napag-usapan rin natin last time.
Perception is of the ego. Knowledge, of the spirit.
Yung human condition is of the ego. Yung mas pamilyar na term para sa ego ay “personality.”
Galing siya sa root word na persona, yung self-image na gawa ng ego.
Eto yung isang reason for human suffering, pag identified tayo dun sa self-image na yun.
Yung perception natin, yung nakikita natin base sa ego ay false image of who we really are.
Who we really are ay love, peace, at joy.
Kaya pag hindi tayo totoo sa ating sarili at sa ibang tao, hindi rin natin nararamdaman yung love, peace, at joy.
⁷The question is not how you respond to the ego, but what you believe you are. (ACIM, T-4.II.4:7)
Ang importanteng tanungin dito ay “who am I?”
Paniniwalaan mo ba yung idea of who you are na sinasabi ng ego? (Belief)
O aalamin mo yung truth of who you are? (Knowledge)
⁸Belief is an ego function, and as long as your origin is open to belief you are regarding it from an ego viewpoint. (ACIM, T-4.II.4:8)
As long as galing sa belief, base yun sa perspective ng ego.
In other words, who you believe you are is not who you really are.
²This is obvious when you consider what is involved. ³To the ego, to give anything implies that you will have to do without it. (ACIM, T-4.II.6:2-3)
Malalaman daw natin ‘to kung identified tayo sa ego sa mga interactions natin.
Eto yung nabanggit ko dun sa unang message sa #DearKyahFreddie: kapag tunay na pagmamamahal ang binibigay mo, walang nawawala sa’yo.
Pero sa ego iba: pag may binigay ka, may mawawala sa’yo.
⁴When you associate giving with sacrifice, you give only because you believe that you are somehow getting something better, and can therefore do without the thing you give. ⁵“Giving to get” is an inescapable law of the ego, which always evaluates itself in relation to other egos. ⁶It is therefore continually preoccupied with the belief in scarcity that gave rise to it. (ACIM, T-4.II.6:4-6)
Para sa ego, giving is conditional. O tulad ng ginamit kong term sa book na Ganito Kami Noon, may “kung-disyon.”
Magbibigay ako kung… Magmamahal ako kung… Magpapatawad ako kung… Tutulong ako kung… Gagawin ko ‘to kung… Magiging masaya ako kung…
Yan ang mga linyahan ng ego, laging base sa belief in scarcity o kakulangan. So kailangan laging may kapalit na more or better.
⁹This “self-esteem” is always vulnerable to stress, a term which refers to any perceived threat to the ego’s existence. (ACIM, T-4.II.6:9)
Like anything else, eto yung perception ng ego for “self-esteem.”
Pero eto yung “self” na naiistress pag hindi nakukuha yung kung-disyon.
Bakit yun threat sa ego? Kasi, tulad ng napag-alaman natin, yung identity ng ego ay nakabase sa what I have.
The ego literally lives by comparisons. ²Equality is beyond its grasp, and charity becomes impossible. (ACIM, T-4.II.7:1-2)
Kaya nabubuhay ang ego sa comparison. The more I have, the better I am – better than anybody.
So hindi alam ng ego yung “equality.” Competition is the name of the game para sa ego.
⁴That is why the concept of “getting” arose in the ego’s thought system. ⁵Appetites are “getting” mechanisms, representing the ego’s need to confirm itself. ⁶This is as true of body appetites as it is of the so-called “higher ego needs.” ⁷Body appetites are not physical in origin. ⁸The ego regards the body as its home, and tries to satisfy itself through the body. (ACIM, T-4.II.7:4-8)
“Get get aww!” Yan ang bet ng ego.
Linawin lang natin ha, sex is a natural biological human need. Built in yan sa DNA natin for the preservation of human race. Normal lang yung sex drive.
Nagiging abnormal lang siya pag ginagamit for the ego’s purpose – ginagamit yung body for the ego’s “self-preservation.”
Dyan na nagkakaroon ng addiction at violence around sex, or anything related sa body’s appetites (e.g. food, money, good looks, sexy body, atbp)
⁴The ego is the mind’s belief that it is completely on its own. (ACIM, T-4.II.8:4)
“All by myself.” Yan naman ang theme song ng ego.
Iniisip ng ego na soloista siya kasi hindi ‘to aware sa presence of spirit dahil nga sa belief in separation from God.
⁸While the ego is equally unaware of spirit, it does perceive itself as being rejected by something greater than itself. (ACIM, T-4.II.8:8)
Tapos tingin rin ng ego ay nireject siya ni God.
Eto yung root cause ng feeling of unworthiness. Kaya yung ego dun siya humuhugot sa sarili niyang version ng “self-esteem” – mga material-based possessions (what I have) at achievements (what I do).
Salvation is nothing more than “right-mindedness,” which is not the One-mindedness of the Holy Spirit, but which must be achieved before One-mindedness is restored. (ACIM, T-4.II.10:1)
Tinuturo sa atin ng A Course in Miracles na yung “salvation” raw ay applicable only sa mind, not spirit. Kasi yung spirit ay laging safe at hindi kailangan ng salvation.
At yung salvation ay walang iba kundi having the correct perception that leads to knowledge.
Eto yung tinatawag na miracle (right-mindedness) that leads to the Atonement (one-mindedness).
Ang article na 'to ay part ng A Course in Miracles (ACIM) Self-Study Series. Go to main page >>
Sign up below to receive the lessons straight to your e-mail.
