Don't Trample Down the self

 

Elevate yourself through the power of your mind, and not degrade yourself, for the mind can be the friend and also the enemy of self. 

B.G. 6:5

Between arrogance and being humble  is usually a state of self-degradation and shame that we need to recognize,process, and release . There is usually a reason for our displays of arrogance: The Redeemer Ego at work in in its attempt to out do shame. 

Is that where our "humble" journey  ends? 

 No, I believe there is a deeper and purer state called humility that has nothing to do with ego. Humility means being free of both shame and a need for redemption of the ego. Infact, in requires being free of ego all together. In order to reach that state we have to be careful when we reach the point of being humble not to take the fork in the road that leads to more self-chastising and to take the road that leads to Self-love. 

When I am "put in my place" by my own thought stream or the words or actions of others, or by life circumstance...I recognize "Oh, I was getting lost in arrogance again.  I was allowing Redeemer Ego to take the reins again." I am grateful for that realization now...where as before I would have reacted strongly.  So, there has been some growth. 

I am still not where I want to be though. Ego is still hanging around.  I know that because when I hit that "humble" point I seem to veer quickly towards a pattern of chastising myself, putting down myself, diminishing and punishing this "ego" that I created. We are not meant to hate our egos...to hate anything actually. We are meant to lovingly and compassionately understand how these egos were created and why...to take responsibility for them, for sure...but not to wallow in shame and guilt for their actions and the consequences of them. Humility is a positive state for Self...shame isn't. 

Michael A. Singer often quotes the Gita, "Don't trample down the self with Self , ..." Though I cannot find that translation anywhere I prefer it in this explaination. 

All is well