Pain… and Righteousness

     Of course everything that I write is always true. How could my ego ever be wrong? My opinion follows virtually every topic and is always correct. Actually it isn’t even my opinions, because my opinion may as well be facts. You don’t think so? Well, there is your opinion.

     Obviously, the above isn't my stance, but a prelude to the topic at hand. The ego believes that happiness comes from being right. To be right we have to bring a bit a duality and find the person who is wrong. The Tao Te Ching states duality very clearly in the 2nd section. So, to be right not only does the other person have to be wrong, but, they also have to be made wrong. The ego loves this and builds up its identity, being correct is like weight lifting to building strength.

     The right and wrong aspect doesn’t just have to be between two people, it also can be between groups. Look to Germany during World War 2, Bosnia, and many other places where genocide is ripping counties apart. Just recently in Michigan a Christian military group joined in religious extremism, not that this is anything new. Religion has been killing people since the dawn of time in the name of God. They identify with their own perspectives believing that what unites them together is truth.

     So what to do? Everything starts with you. Your change still alters the universe even if it is on a small scale. If in a situation of disagreeing with another, it may behoove you to step back and ask yourself, “Is my thought really a fact or my opinion?” If it is not an opinion, could you really backup your remarks with some sort of proof? Most times the answer is no. End the debate and seek peace. Awareness of the ego at this moment will allow for corrections over time and shift your consciousness away from this type of pain.