We as African peoples are a strong 'race'. If it wasn't for our streangth, perseverance and our ability to adapt, to create various cultures within which to survive the human race wouldn't be where it is today. Granted where that is exactly is debateable but you get my point.

The ancients understood it, a strong diverse peoples need to understand humility. Their various cultures were, and through rites of passage (initiations set at various stages in a persons life) still are, systems designed to enstreangthen their peoples rather than spiritually and mentally shackle them as we see today, one of their teachings was/is, "The elimination of ego"

Have to reiliterate, our lack of past understanding has lead us to being in the situation/s we are in now.

Our lack of humility, our egotism isour main problem inflicting on our communities and awareness of each others varying situation today. God knows how many groups we have working independently of each other for egotistical purposes, at times speaking to one, "revolutionary" (Idealist?) about another with his cause is like speaking to the more "ghetto" and ignant of us, even within well known groups and organizations. At least thats my opinion.

So...

Is egotism our biggest problem and if so how can it be fought?

As usual I'm on my mobile typing this, kinda lost track of myself, was going to go into the, 'elimination of ego' but yeah, what do you think?

Htp
A

I look forward to Kunjufu's response

Hey Apedemak (what does that mean by the way?),

I agree with your title in that understanding the ego is important but as you also rightfully pointed out, sometimes we are too busy stroking the ego for personal gain that we have no interest in controlling our ego.

There's nothing wrong with doing things that make you feel better but when you have to start putting others down and playing completely petty politics and games to keep yourself in the positon that for some reasonis soimportant...then you have lost. No matter how much you may think you have won. You lose your people, you lose their trust, you lose your respect and you lose your self. All to chase that Energy on the Go!

I'm glad you made mention about some and I stress only some of our organisations being lead by people sometimes who have let the ego get the better of them to our collective detriment. Who these conflicts affect seems to be the outcome of such problems. I at one point didn't think that there were many organisations out there that we actually ran and were for our interests as a people but there are loads. We just don't seem to be hearing enough about them and if more of them did join together in their efforts then perhaps their existence would be more apparent.

I'm finding inour business community this is also happening but to answer your question, the bigger problem seems to be aHUGE LACK OF TRUST. This is clear in our social circles and also in our family circles and to be honest I'msick and tiredof hearing and seeing it.....then from time to time we'll get agitated about why we cannot unite :X.

Is egotism our biggest problem and if so how can it be fought? The first thing that needs to happen is that if the ego is out of control ithas tobe recognized by the person themselves. The only thing with that though is it couldn't possibly be them who has a problem it's the other person/people right? *shakes head * classic !!

How many people do you know (never mind in a positon of power or control) that could actually admit "yeah ok I did this or that to get at you and I was wrong". In fact how many people can actually say the simple word sorry?!!!!. Honesty hurts waaaay too much for that and the false satisfaction that can come from misuse of the ego probably brings even more satisfaction.

Trying to end on a positive note though, the ego is all about I nessand if we practised more of the we ness we could actually achievemuch muchmore TOGETHER. Herewe go again with the rose tinted shades on LOL.

Ego is a recurring subject, a very important recurring subject. How abouta different approach this time?

There are three key parts of aspects of man, those three key parts being the spirit, the mind and the body. The process of becoming spiritual or spiritually-inclined involves connecting all three of these important aspects. The biggest enemy of this connect theego, which settles right in the middle, at the mind, keeping the spirit (higher self) and the body (lower self) from connecting (division)and operating in harmony, which would connect one back to the Source, a true connection with the higher and lower spheres. This is parallel-harmonizing information to the seven chakras; principally connecting the first, fourth and sixth chakras, which facilitatesaccess theseventh;here is a visual and text representation together as well. The key understanding behind both of these thought-forms is connection, harmony, balance.

In numerology, 1+4+6=11 <---A master number, two ones in harmony; the higher and lower, the masculine and feminine aspects, rational mindand intuition, spirit and physical body; balance. This is achievable for anyone willing to seek it, but it involves giving up the ego entirely.

How can we give up the ego to balance ourselves? Primarily by humbling ourselves by any means necessary. Our worth is not wrapped up in monetary value, our true worth is inhow we help one another positively. That does not place us above anyone (ego 'I', separate from everyone else)because it is being of service to one's fellow man is to fulfilling a realneed be it spiritual, physical, etc. It involves giving without seeking a return because it is needed, that is being humane, that is being connected, and that is what is a part of becoming whole. Giving, be it knowledge or otherwise may not seem a to be a benefit for those giving it because mostpeople are not seeking it, but a few people are. The world has a nice side of theprincipleof causality; what one does is returned upon one's own head. So if one's heart, mind and spirit is in the right place, pure in the intention to give something of importance and priceless value, it will only be returned ten-fold to be enablebeinggiven out again to more people.



Therefore, the ego must be removed completely, suppressing it will only expand it and keep it presence constant in one's life. Ego is a cancer, if it is not removed completely it will only spread until it consumes one entirely. Once that cancer is removed by humbling self, then that is when higher thresholds of consciousness and understanding can be obtained.