Maharajji told me, 'Give up anger and I'll help you.' I found _x000D_ that love freed me back into the ocean of love and my righteous anger didn't do that. And I would rather be free than right.
Ram DassRead
The Ego is an exquisite instrument. Enjoy it, use it--just don't get lost in it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The ego can be a useful tool, but one must be careful not to become overly attached to it.
This quote emphasizes the dual nature of the ego; it can serve as a powerful instrument for navigating the world and understanding oneself, yet it can also lead to confusion and a false sense of identity if one becomes too enamored with it. Ram Dass encourages us to utilize our ego wisely, enjoying its benefits while remaining aware of its pitfalls.
Themes
EgoIdentitySelf-AwarenessMindfulnessWisdom
In practice
Example use cases
In a personal development workshop, to emphasize the importance of being aware of one's ego.
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Let the natural flow of the universe, course through your being, and harmonize your soul.
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You can be still and still moving. Content even in your discontent.
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The heart surrenders everything to the moment. The mind judges and holds back. _x000D_ _x000D_ In most of our human relationships, we spend much of our time reassuring one another that our costumes of identity are on straight. _x000D_ _x000D_ When we see the Beloved in each person, it's like walking through a garden, watching flowers bloom all around us.
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When I look at relationships, my own and others, I see a wide range of reasons for people to be together and ways in which they are together. I see ways in which a relationship - which means something that exists between two or more people - for the most part reinforces people's separateness as individual entities.
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