The Real Enemy: Ego as the Root of Our Troubles
"At the center of it is this thing called the ego, which is me—John Butler. And because ‘me’ is separate from real life, which is the absence of me, then the only one to blame for the world is me. That’s what’s called the ego, and the ego is another word for the old-fashioned word ‘the devil’… If you want to see the devil, look in a mirror. You’ll soon see him. That’s our enemy, that’s the one to fear. The real thing to be afraid of is the ego.” — John Butler
Description
Around minute 28, John Butler explores the concept of ego as the root of spiritual and worldly troubles. He argues that the sense of a separate “I” or ego is the true source of conflict, suffering, and disconnection in life. According to Butler, our fixation on “I, me, mine” leads to separation from our true nature, which is unity with the divine or with life itself. He likens ego to the devil—something that inverts and distorts reality and perpetuates ignorance. Real spiritual progress, Butler suggests, starts with recognizing this egoic tendency and practicing humility, self-awareness, and a return to a state of oneness.
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