Ego vs. Spirituality

A car is a useful way to get around, sure, but for me, it’s so much more than that.
I love tinkering with it, keeping it spotless, and looking after it—it actually stings a bit when people don't "get" it, or worse, call it an eyesore (as if their own ride isn't doing the exact same thing).
Honestly, I spend most of my free time detailing it or adding new gadgets—stuff that might not even be practical, but looks sharp and adds value, which, let's face it, is basically increasing my own ego by proxy.
It kills me when someone scratches it, or god forbid, if there’s a fender bender—so half the time I’m tempted to just leave it tucked away in the garage, or better yet, put it in a showroom window. If people can't see its beauty, its importance, and its sheer dominance, then what’s even the point?
Anyway, in this crowded world—between the gridlock, the road hazards, and those insane gas prices and repair bills—it’s hard to actually let the engine breathe or hit top speed. But when I describe it to the neighbors, I see some are genuinely impressed, while others are just bitter, thinking their own cars are somehow superior—which, obviously, they aren't.
At the end of the day, my car is my favorite thing in the world. I love it more than anything.

Jamie Davis9 said:And I'm just going to say, that honestly sounds more like a suggestion for a tattoo than a coherent thought.

Tattoos, huh...

I honestly find it hilarious how all these "humble" types suddenly turn into total monsters the second you bruise their non-existent egos. 🤣

Joseph Bailey41 said:I honestly find it hilarious how all these "humble" types suddenly turn into total monsters the second you bruise their non-existent egos. 🤣

Who exactly is acting up?
It reminds me of something Hegel once said: evil is found in the eye of the one searching for it.
If you're convinced that humble people are being fake, you'll start seeing them everywhere.

To be clear, I never claimed to be humble, nor did I say I don't have an ego.

Hey everyone! Just joined the party here (thanks for the warm welcome, 😁), and honestly, just lurking through this thread has me thinking... if we didn't have an ego, we wouldn't have any drive at all. Sure, there are different levels to it—obviously some people take it way too far—but if you’ve got a healthy dose of it in your daily life, I think it’s actually a pretty vital tool for growing as a person. Whether you're navigating a relationship or trying to climb the ladder at a place like Google, most of us just want to prove our worth, right? I feel like a "normal ego" is necessary because, in a way, it's that little voice telling you that you're actually capable of things and that you deserve them.

And don't even get me started on those "spiritual gurus" who claim they can just shed their entire ego after a couple of meditation sessions—to me, those people are the biggest egoists of them all. It’s like someone digging out their own two eyes just because they heard it's the only way to see with a "third eye." Total nonsense. You need balance and common sense. To me, the real point of spirituality should be helping a person—with all their goals, visions, and ambitions—to step back from the chaos, stay present, and actually be satisfied with where they are right now. That doesn't mean throwing everything you've worked for down the drain or being like, "well, this is just who I am, so I'll never improve my career or work on being a better partner." That's just giving up. You can't just shrug your shoulders and say, "it is what it is" while sitting around doing nothing.😁

amberpuma8 said:Hey everyone! Just joined the party here (thanks for the warm welcome, 😁), and honestly, just lurking through this thread has me thinking... if we didn't have an ego, we wouldn't have any drive at all. Sure, there are different levels to it—obviously some people take it way too far—but if you’ve got a healthy dose of it in your daily life, I think it’s actually a pretty vital tool for growing as a person. Whether you're navigating a relationship or trying to climb the ladder at a place like Google, most of us just want to prove our worth, right? I feel like a "normal ego" is necessary because, in a way, it's that little voice telling you that you're actually capable of things and that you deserve them.

And don't even get me started on those "spiritual gurus" who claim they can just shed their entire ego after a couple of meditation sessions—to me, those people are the biggest egoists of them all. It’s like someone digging out their own two eyes just because they heard it's the only way to see with a "third eye." Total nonsense. You need balance and common sense. To me, the real point of spirituality should be helping a person—with all their goals, visions, and ambitions—to step back from the chaos, stay present, and actually be satisfied with where they are right now. That doesn't mean throwing everything you've worked for down the drain or being like, "well, this is just who I am, so I'll never improve my career or work on being a better partner." That's just giving up. You can't just shrug your shoulders and say, "it is what it is" while sitting around doing nothing.😁

If that's the case, then you don't actually need spirituality.

Melissa Stewart6 said:If that's the case, then you don't actually need spirituality.

I was just writing that from the perspective of the people who say stuff like that—not really speaking for myself... all good! 😁

amberpuma8 said:I was just writing that from the perspective of the people who say stuff like that—not really speaking for myself... all good! 😁

By the way, Buddhism teaches that the ego doesn't actually exist—it's just an illusion.

Melissa Stewart6 said:Who exactly is acting up?
It reminds me of something Hegel once said: evil is found in the eye of the one searching for it.
If you're convinced that humble people are being fake, you'll start seeing them everywhere.

To be clear, I never claimed to be humble, nor did I say I don't have an ego.

Honestly, I was actually considering picking up some Hegel lately, but you've totally convinced me that he's just some massive windbag who isn't worth my time. ☕

Joseph Bailey41 said:I was actually considering picking up some Hegel lately, but you’ve totally convinced me he’s just some massive windbag who isn't worth my time. ☕

Why's that?
Hegel had this idea that when someone looks at the world and sees only evil, they end up isolating themselves from the very society they're criticizing—and that isolation itself becomes the problem. Then again, if you look at it through a dialectical lens, evil is just a necessary step on the path toward something good.

Melissa Stewart6 said:By the way, Buddhism teaches that the ego doesn't actually exist—it's just an illusion.

Well, look, everyone’s gonna carve out their own little version of the truth... honestly, anyone who actually sits down and thinks for themselves is going to end up doing the same. You just grab whatever bits from different religions actually click for you and roll with it.

You know there's always a flaw if it’s something a human being tried to bring to light in the first place. It's kind of like how people here living on average American wages don't go around spreading their discontent everywhere—it's all an illusion because, hey, they still manage to find a reason to laugh every single day. Everything really just comes down to the angle you're looking from when you build your perception, and of course, perspectives are going to vary—if they didn't, things wouldn't be normal, right? We're all different, and we really need to learn to accept that and just find our tribe—people who vibe with us—so we can share whatever it is we've got going on in this life.

Melissa Stewart6 said:Why's that?
Hegel had this idea that when someone looks at the world and sees only evil, they end up isolating themselves from the very society they're criticizing—and that isolation itself becomes the problem. Then again, if you look at it through a dialectical lens, evil is just a necessary step on the path toward something good.

Well, in this particular situation, I don't give a damn about dialectics. Bad people exist. Liars, hypocrites, malicious trolls—they're all out there. Just because I can see them doesn't mean there's "evil in my eye." It just means I'm not blind.

If someone wants to chant mantras about how we're all one, or how a benevolent God is watching over us, or even that the Earth is flat, go ahead. It’s their business. But I reserve the right to be exclusive toward people I simply don't like, and I have zero intention of bleating along with the politically correct (or, in this case, spiritually correct) herd.

Joseph Bailey41 said:Well, in this particular situation, I don't give a damn about dialectics. Bad people exist. Liars, hypocrites, malicious trolls—they're all out there. Just because I can see them doesn't mean there's "evil in my eye." It just means I'm not blind.

If someone wants to chant mantras about how we're all one, or how a benevolent God is watching over us, or even that the Earth is flat, go ahead. It’s their business. But I reserve the right to be exclusive toward people I simply don't like, and I have zero intention of bleating along with the politically correct (or, in this case, spiritually correct) herd.

I think he wasn't talking about people who happen to notice evil, but rather those who actively go looking for it everywhere they turn.
Are you familiar with the concepts of Ergon and Pragma?

Pragma refers to a specific action—like buying a pack of matches. It’s an isolated act performed with a particular goal in mind.
Ergon, on the other hand, is one's life work, or what philosophers might call a person's essence.

What's the takeaway? You can't judge a whole person based on a single isolated incident. A good person might slip up and do something wrong occasionally, but that isn't the same thing as living a life defined by evil.

Melissa Stewart6 said:I think he wasn't talking about people who happen to notice evil, but rather those who actively go looking for it everywhere they turn.
Are you familiar with the concepts of Ergon and Pragma?

Pragma refers to a specific action—like buying a pack of matches. It’s an isolated act performed with a particular goal in mind.
Ergon, on the other hand, is one's life work, or what philosophers might call a person's essence.

What's the takeaway? You can't judge a whole person based on a single isolated incident. A good person might slip up and do something wrong occasionally, but that isn't the same thing as living a life defined by evil.

Okay, so what’s the point of all that?

The legal system punishes individual actions, but in our day-to-day lives, we usually rely on our general impression of someone to decide if they're even worth dealing with. Hegel was incredibly precise about this in other contexts, but for some reason, his claim here feels vague and unsupported. Since I haven't personally studied Hegel, I'm basing this on what's available (specifically that quote you shared), and my conclusion is that it doesn't seem worth my time to dive deep into his work. I doubt anyone will hold that against me, since it seems like almost nobody here has actually read Hegel or feels any deep emotional connection to his theories. Hegelianism isn't a religion; you don't have people knocking on your door wanting to chat about him, church bells don't ring in his honor on Sundays, women aren't wandering the streets wrapped in bandages because he told them to, and elementary school kids aren't learning a thing about him in class.

The real reason you and I are even talking about Hegel on a Saturday night is that you constantly hide behind quotes. One minute it's Nietzsche, the next it's Hegel. And then you act surprised when people call you out, even though you haven't technically "said" anything or insulted anyone directly—you just show up to be a nuisance, complaining about how certain women on these forums don't subscribe to your idea of humility. Wherever you pop up, you're trolling. At this point, we aren't talking about a single action anymore; we're talking about your entire legacy. I honestly don't know what you're trying to achieve, but it's becoming exhausting. No amount of Greek terminology or philosophical citations can mask the fact that you don't actually have anything to say—not about this topic, and not about anything else.

Joseph Bailey41 said:Okay, so what’s the point of all that?

The legal system punishes individual actions, but in our day-to-day lives, we usually rely on our general impression of someone to decide if they're even worth dealing with. Hegel was incredibly precise about this in other contexts, but for some reason, his claim here feels vague and unsupported. Since I haven't personally studied Hegel, I'm basing this on what's available (specifically that quote you shared), and my conclusion is that it doesn't seem worth my time to dive deep into his work. I doubt anyone will hold that against me, since it seems like almost nobody here has actually read Hegel or feels any deep emotional connection to his theories. Hegelianism isn't a religion; you don't have people knocking on your door wanting to chat about him, church bells don't ring in his honor on Sundays, women aren't wandering the streets wrapped in bandages because he told them to, and elementary school kids aren't learning a thing about him in class.

The real reason you and I are even talking about Hegel on a Saturday night is that you constantly hide behind quotes. One minute it's Nietzsche, the next it's Hegel. And then you act surprised when people call you out, even though you haven't technically "said" anything or insulted anyone directly—you just show up to be a nuisance, complaining about how certain women on these forums don't subscribe to your idea of humility. Wherever you pop up, you're trolling. At this point, we aren't talking about a single action anymore; we're talking about your entire legacy. I honestly don't know what you're trying to achieve, but it's becoming exhausting. No amount of Greek terminology or philosophical citations can mask the fact that you don't actually have anything to say—not about this topic, and not about anything else.

And why are you so focused on the forum users and their motivations instead of the actual topic?
I might not have much to say personally, but that's why I share thoughts I actually like. It doesn't matter at all if someone else said them first.
What do you actually have to contribute, aside from trying to tear down the people you don't like?

If I wanted to, I could write a much more detailed response and dive into that whole ego thing. But I won't—not here, and certainly not right now. With other people, maybe.

Melissa Stewart6 said:And why are you so focused on the forum users and their motivations instead of the actual topic?
I might not have much to say personally, but that's why I share thoughts I actually like. It doesn't matter at all if someone else said them first.
What do you actually have to contribute, aside from trying to tear down the people you don't like?

If I wanted to, I could write a much more detailed response and dive into that whole ego thing. But I won't—not here, and certainly not right now. With other people, maybe.

You created this thread to drop wise spiritual quotes, so by all means, knock yourself out. You’re also more than welcome to deal with that whole ego thing with other people somewhere else. If you haven't managed to say anything smarter than "some users find the concept of humility disgusting" up to this point, there's no need to even try. But hey, feel free to post some more tattoos; this thread wouldn't be half as interesting without them. ☕

Joseph Bailey41 said:You created this thread to drop wise spiritual quotes, so by all means, knock yourself out. You’re also more than welcome to deal with that whole ego thing with other people somewhere else. If you haven't managed to say anything smarter than "some users find the concept of humility disgusting" up to this point, there's no need to even try. But hey, feel free to post some more tattoos; this thread wouldn't be half as interesting without them. ☕

Well, now... some posts aren't even worth a reaction beyond an emoji or a smiley face.
Most of your comments just boil down to ad hominem attacks and trolling again.
Anyway, I'm heading out, so you can get this discussion back on the right track.

feralranger said:Quote : Sul The Great

Enchantress As if I haven't heard enough today, someone just had to chime in and say: Do you truly believe that the ego serves as a fundamental obstacle to one's spiritual evolution?

Quote : Sul The Great

Betty Wells16 As stated by: It appears we are once again grappling with the sheer, unadulterated weight of an Egoistic nature.

What exactly is it that keeps us at a standstill?

I find myself suspecting that within those three mere letters...It appears we have reached that inevitable, tiresome stage where the conversation inevitably circles back to the concept of the Ego. One can hardly escape it, can one? It hangs over our modern discourse like a heavy, unwanted fog, demanding attention while offering nothing but vanity in return. I find myself wondering if we aren't all just performing a rather elaborate, exhausting dance to satisfy this insatiable internal critic. Truly, it’s enough to make one want to retreat to the most remote corner of the Himalayas just to find a moment of quietude away from such relentless self-importance.Honestly, people will swallow just about anything these days.

It would be prudent to begin by examining what that specific term actually signifies within the context of our language...
The first interpretation leans heavily into the realm of psychology, whereas the second is far more general in its application.

In the realm of psychoanalysis, one might define the psyche as that intricate structural layer of personality tasked with navigating the messy reality of our existence. It acts as the essential mediator, desperately attempting to strike some semblance of balance between our primal, impulsive drives—the id—and those rigid, morally demanding ethical standards we call the super-ego. It encompasses the cognitive and perceptual facets of consciousness, including everything from memory to the often-flawed process of decision-making; essentially, it is the ego.

The concept of a whole individual—one who is truly cognizant of their own existence and actively asserts that uniqueness when interacting with others, their environment, and even inanimate objects—is essentially the study of the self. We are talking about the intricate tapestry of the ego, the core persona, the distinct personality, and that elusive sense of self-awareness that defines us as human beings.

What exactly is the problem here, and more importantly, why on earth should anyone care?

To be acutely aware of one's own existence? Honestly, why on earth would anyone consider that "cliché"?
Possessing a distinct personality? Honestly, why on earth would anyone consider that a disadvantage?

Or perhaps we should frame it in psychological terms: the constant, exhausting struggle to strike a balance between our primal, impulsive drives and our higher moral aspirations and ethical values? And if that is the case, I find myself wondering why anyone would suggest such an endeavor is inherently flawed.

Who, exactly, is devoid of an ego? If we are being honest, the only candidates would be small children who haven't quite grasped the concept of selfhood yet, or perhaps those certain adults whose intellectual and cognitive development seems to have hit a permanent standstill before they ever achieved true self-awareness.

The concept of being Egoistic is by no means inherently negative or indicative of some deep-seated character flaw; in fact, I find it hard to imagine anyone actually desiring for their child to lack an ego entirely. After all, who would want to raise a kid without any sense of self-awareness, a distinct personality, or basic cognitive function? To deny someone an ego is essentially to wish for them to be mentally incapacitated.

It seems that certain individuals, those lacking even a modicum of intellectual depth, frequently fall into the trap of conflating the concept of the "ego" with terms like "egocentric" or "egomaniac"—labels which, as any reasonable person understands, carry a decidedly negative connotation.

The distinction between possessing a healthy, functional ego and descending into full-blown egomania is quite much like the difference between enjoying a decent meal and losing all self-control to a massive binge.

That’s pretty shallow. That "psychoanalytic sense" doesn't even touch on the concept within the context of metaphysical makeup or spiritual teachings. And let’s be real: the ego isn't what creates balance—in fact, it usually leans toward destabilization because of all those messy individual experiences, selfish interests, and egocentric projections. As for point number two? Just generalizations and banal nonsense.

"Let's just throw in everything that comes to mind that vaguely associates with the word."
It's none of those things. It isn't the "whole person," it isn't the "self," it isn't "personality," and it isn't "self-awareness." None of it. Total garbage.

feralranger said:Frankly, I cannot name a single person who lives without an ego. The ego—that essential cocktail of self-awareness, personality, and the very memories that weave together our identity—is present in every healthy individual. It is absent in small children who haven't yet developed a sense of self, and it is absent in those with severe cognitive impairments. One also loses the ego during the advanced stages of Alzheimer's or in states of extreme intoxication... though in the earlier stages, it certainly knows how to run wild...

Furthermore, I have observed a peculiar pattern: those failed "teachers" or "preachers" who rail against the ego—which, let’s be honest, is perfectly normal and human—are often nothing more than massive egomaniacs themselves. It follows a certain twisted logic, really; in order for someone to impose their own megalomaniacal whims upon others, they find it quite convenient to dismantle the perfectly healthy egos of everyone else, thereby clearing a path to spread their own egocentrism.

Even here on the forums, many of these self-proclaimed "spiritualists" and "gurus" turn out to be blatant egomaniacs—persecutors of the ego (the normal kind, belonging to others) while remaining blissfully, perhaps even willfully, unaware of their own narcissism.

Are you serious?

What's your field of study here? What kind of examples or arguments are you actually using to back up a claim like that?

In any serious school of thought, they don't talk about being "against the ego"; they talk about a state of consciousness where the ego just isn't calling the shots.

Joseph Bailey41 said:Fair point. You aren't his press secretary. Then again, he isn't a spokesperson for anyone but himself and his own ego—acting like he's the smartest guy in the room. Honestly, we've seen this act so many times it's getting a bit tiresome. Can we get back to the actual topic?

Honestly, you're just spinning fairy tales again and trying to pass off your delusions as hard facts.

Joseph Bailey41 said:Exactly. It’s like the response to thousands of years of women being conditioned to be submissive. We’ve just reached our limit, honestly. If you care so much about preserving that "virtue," maybe try being the humble ones for a change. ☕

It isn't about being Egoistic; it’s just pure burnout. We are done with the mansplaining, done with being treated as second-class citizens, and done with these gods who are really just projections of individual and collective egos. It's over. That's it.

Maybe if people actually dealt with their own baggage—and the people who caused it—first, they wouldn't be so blinded by obvious biases or feel the need to engage in these endless, pointless internet shouting matches with total strangers about things that don't even matter.

hollowpuma762 said:Honestly, you're just spinning fairy tales again and trying to pass off your delusions as hard facts.

Maybe if people actually dealt with their own baggage—and the people who caused it—first, they wouldn't be so blinded by obvious biases or feel the need to engage in these endless, pointless internet shouting matches with total strangers about things that don't even matter.

Fair point. So why aren't you fixing them?