He who always justifies his actions lacks inner conviction. In lacking inner conviction, egoistic desire may motivate him to justify himself in order to regain control over his life.
Instead, stop justifying your actions. Be silent and listen with your heart-mind to the wise counsel of a good friend.
Always the battle is not with a thousand enemies, but with our greatest enemy: the ego-self. Each of us has no enemy stronger, for each of us has had doubts about the self. Indeed, there are no enemies, only potential friends.
In context of this meditation, "ego-self" refers to belief that the ego exists as an independent self as a permanent thing. With respect to that definition, "healthy ego" refers to the self that is aware of interdependence on others yet is self reliant.
"Interdependence" refers to the true nature of relationships. Even though there may be a causal relationship between myself and another person A, it also affects that person's causal relationship with yet another person B. Even though I do not know person B, and person B does not know me, my relationship with person A cannot help but affect person B indirectly.
Thus it makes sense to be of harm to no one.
Originally posted on May 26, 2005 9:25 PM
Edited August 24, 2010 at 11:54 PM
Edited January 29, 2013 at 19:35 PM
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