ABB Blogs

The nature of ego. The most slippery thing to catch hold of, almost like a wet snake and the most common thing in the world. The paradox about the ego is that, it exists yet it doesn't. It exists because of our identity to ourselves. People maybe spiritualistic ,materialistic ,religious or a christian, hindu, muslim and we prop ourselves for belonging to something.What it does that it gives more identity to ourselves .The identity maybe of that of the world or the 'other-world' but both are the same. Our so-called 'saints' are nothing other than a person with the ego of the 'other-world'. It is most common that our saints might have a repressed ego in themselves.

The real man without ego is neither egoistic nor humble. He/She is just simply themselves. Their identification with the body is lost such that they are neither a male or a female. This is what jesus meant when he said "to see the kindom of god, your two eyes must become one"(not the exact quote). He is simply saying that our inner polarities,divisions and finally our inner male and female should dissappear into each other that you are neither male or female and becomes simply a witnessing consciousness.

Now think about it, what is it the humbleness that our priest goes on teaching us. He is telling us to repress our thoughts about our false identity (with ourselves) with our body, religion, spirituality, money, name, educational qualifications.. So, that you will be treated in the other world with somany wonderful things. Do not fall into that trap. But be compassionate toward him, he has been unconsciously brainwashed by their teachers that have been brainwasshing themselves and others for years.

The ego exists not. The ego is simply a bundle of thought about our false identity. And thoughts are simply another version of the dreams that we see during sleep. It is when you wake up that you realize all these things were just a dream. So the middle way in going beyond the ego is to know that neither repressing nor expressing won't help in overcoming it. It is to know our true nature beyond our bodies(physical, astral, all other 'bodies').

Acclaimed humanitarian photographer Lisa Kristine creates more than images, she inspires change. A master storyteller, Lisa documents indigenous cultures in more than 100 countries on six continents, instinctively identifying the universal human dignity in all of us. Awakening compassion and igniting action in a worldwide audience with powerful, broad-sweeping images of courage and tender, intimate portrayals, Lisa elevates significant social causes—such as the elimination of human slavery and the unification of humanity—to missions. Her work resonates in the heart and moves us to act.

Lisa has gained broad recognition for her collaboration with the NGO Free the Slaves. This breathtaking body of work, illuminating human enslavement, is brought together in Slavery, published in 2010. Lisa has received global attention for shining a light on contemporary slavery across media platforms, including CNN and Reuters, speaking at TED events, museums, NGO’s, business conferences, colleges and universities. Lisa was the recipient of the 2013 Lucie Humanitarian Award, which honors the greatest achievements in of master photographers around the world.

This is how bad it is : An average slave in the American South in 1850 cost the equivalent of $40,000 in today’s money; today a slave costs an average of $90.

In 1850 it was difficult to capture a slave and then transport them to the US. Today, millions of economically and socially vulnerable people around the world are potential slaves.

This “supply” makes slaves today cheaper than they have ever been. Since they are so cheap, slaves are today are not considered a major investment worth maintaining. If slaves get sick, are injured, outlive their usefulness, or become troublesome to the slaveholder, they are dumped or killed. 

Since slavery feeds directly into the global economy, it makes sense that we would be concerned by the ways in which slavery flows into our homes through the products we buy and the investments we make. Slaves harvest cocoa in the Ivory Coast, make charcoal used to produce steel in Brazil, weave carpets in India—the list goes on. These products reach our stores and our homes. It is worth noting the items in your home and see if they are linked. FairTrade is a good way to start - buying FairTrade means better treatment and pay for people who work in 'slave-like' conditions. 

University of California, Berkeley found documented cases of slavery and human trafficking in more than 90 cities across the United States. So yes, it's on our doorsteps, in our homes and you can do your bit by considering what you buy, who you buy from and where your produces/items come from. Together as a whole, we can stamp out slavery.

What is Karma? Karma is the Sanskrit word for action. It is equivalent to Newton’s law of ‘every action must have a reaction’. When we think, speak or act we initiate a force that will react accordingly. This returning force maybe modified, changed or suspended, but most people will not be able eradicate it.

This law of cause and effect is not punishment, but is wholly for the sake of education or learning.

A person may not escape the consequences of his actions, but he will suffer only if he himself has made the conditions ripe for his suffering. Ignorance of the law is no excuse whether the laws are man-made or universal.

To stop being afraid and to start being empowered in the worlds of karma and reincarnation, here is what you need to know about karmic laws.

1. THE GREAT LAW

- “As you sow, so shall you reap”. This is also known as the “Law of Cause and Effect”.

- Whatever we put out in the Universe is what comes back to us.

- If what we want is Happiness, Peace, Love, Friendship… Then we should BE Happy, Peaceful, Loving and a True Friend.

2. THE LAW OF CREATION

- Life doesn’t just HAPPEN, it requires our participation.

- We are one with the Universe, both inside and out.

- Whatever surrounds us gives us clues to our inner state.

- BE yourself, and surround yourself with what you want to have present in your Life.

3. THE LAW OF HUMILITY

- What you refuse to accept, will continue for you.

- If what we see is an enemy, or someone with a character trait that we find to be negative, then we ourselves are not focused on a higher level of existence.

4. THE LAW OF GROWTH

- “Wherever you go, there you are”.

- For us to GROW in Spirit, it is we who must change – and not the people, places or things around us.

- The only given we have in our lives is OURSELVES and that is the only factor we have control over.

- When we change who and what we are within our heart our life follows suit and changes too.

5. THE LAW OF RESPONSIBILITY

- Whenever there is something wrong in my life, there is something wrong in me.

- We mirror what surrounds us – and what surrounds us mirrors us; this is a Universal Truth.

- We must take responsibility what is in our life.

6.THE LAW OF CONNECTION

- Even if something we do seems inconsequential, it is very important that it gets done as everything in the Universe is connected.

- Each step leads to the next step, and so forth and so on.

- Someone must do the initial work to get a job done.

- Neither the first step nor the last are of greater significance,

- As they were both needed to accomplish the task.

- Past-Present-Future they are all connected…

7. THE LAW OF FOCUS

- You can not think of two things at the same time.

- When our focus is on Spiritual Values, it is impossible for us to have lower thoughts such as greed or anger.

8. THE LAW OF GIVING AND HOSPITALITY

- If you believe something to be true,then sometime in your life you will be called upon to demonstrate that particular truth.

- Here is where we put what we CLAIM that we have learned, into actual

9. PRACTICE. THE LAW OF HERE AND NOW

- Looking backward to examine what was, prevents us from being totally in the HERE AND NOW.

- Old thoughts, old patterns of behavior, old dreams…

- Prevent us from having new ones.

10. THE LAW OF CHANGE

- History repeats itself until we learn the lessons that we need to change our path.

11. THE LAW OF PATIENCE AND REWARD

- All Rewards require initial toil.

- Rewards of lasting value require patient and persistent toil.

- True joy follows doing what we’re suppose to be doing, and waiting for the reward to come in on its own time.

12. THE LAW OF SIGNIFICANCE AND INSPIRATION

- You get back from something whatever YOU have put into it.

- The true value of something is a direct result of the energy and intent that is put into it.

- Every personal contribution is also a contribution to the Whole.

- Lack luster contributions have no impact on the Whole, nor do they work to diminish it.

- Loving contributions bring life to, and inspire, the Whole.

Taken from HERE. I thought it was interesting and for those who need to learn the karma law, including me, can use it as a guideline towards growing on a spiritual level