【Q: Is there a simple way to dissolve the ego?】

【Q: Is there a simple way to dissolve the ego?】

A: Yes. If you sincerely submerge yourself within, it becomes clear that what sustains the ego's reactions is the pleasure derived from them. That inner satisfaction is the reward obtained from self-pity, anger (consciousness level 150), rage, aversion, pride (consciousness level 175), guilt (consciousness level 30), fear (consciousness level 100), and so on. Strangely, this inner pleasure fuels these emotions and amplifies them. To dissolve these influences, you must be willing to surrender and let go of these suspicious, secret inner pleasures to God, and seek joy (consciousness level 540), pleasure (serotonin), and happiness (power) only from God.

At first, the mind may deny that it derives secret pleasure from pain, but through rigorous self-analysis, it should become clearly visible that you are clinging to the 'content' because you are getting a 'sweet payoff' from that position. If you are honest with yourself, you will soon discover this fact.

Everyone derives secret pleasure from anger, being a victim, or being misunderstood or unfairly judged. Furthermore, society and the law reinforce this through legal provisions and financial rewards. We receive compensation by being 'offended,' 'mistreated' at work, enduring 'stress,' or feeling 'discomfort.'

When these rewards lose their value, the emotions naturally disappear. This mechanism persists only as long as it serves some purpose. When you abandon this 'ego's sweet payoff,' inner peace arrives.

You will notice that this ego game is accompanied by secret vanity. It is as if the more you complain about suffering with the face of a pitiful victim of the world's injustices, the more the ego is reinforced. In reality, the ego secretly enjoys the struggle of crafting itself into a drama and reaping the rewards from it. The ego is self-propagating through its own internal questioning.

To dissolve the ego, you must be willing to abandon this reward game, along with the dramatic performance of emotions and the clichéd stories used repeatedly for justification. In fact, you must not forget that the ego sucks sweet nectar from discomfort. There is no greater pleasure than 'righteous indignation.' The ego deeply 'loves' such a delicious position that yields such great rewards.

A second advantage the ego gains from a victim stance is that it provides an excuse for any extreme action taken. The ego is ridiculous. It gladly throws itself into every negative emotion, no matter what pain or suffering it brings. However, as the price for these secret, non-integrated benefits, one becomes covered in overall shame, self-deprecation, and a sense of guilt. Think of someone who stubbornly refuses to take positive action. They 'stubbornly' refuse help from those around them. This remains true even if it is free and the doors are wide open. A defense mechanism they often use is making poor excuses. If the problem becomes too serious, they create a situation where their family or society is forced to intervene, even using somewhat 'harsh' measures for the sake of salvation.

Ego addiction and survival are based on the secret pleasure derived from negativity. Only by firmly recognizing its true nature and accepting it without guilt or shame can you finally abandon it. We must firmly recognize that the ego is something everyone inherits, a completely impersonal function that acts on its own.

【Q: Why do we have such persistent motives?】
A: It is because they are distorted substitutes for true love and God. If you look closely at their reality, you will see that they are self-indulgent, circular self-reward systems. However, because they do not take responsibility for being the initiator, they are non-integrated. Even if the ego is not 'I,' the responsibility for it lies with oneself.
The ego games played out in society have dividing lines that split all human relationships into perpetrators and victims, and those lines shift at will. This game begins on the playground, but through the desire for financial gain and amplification by the media, it remains the greatest concern even today.

【Q: The current explanation has made it clear.】
A: The |Ego| has intentionally clever mechanisms, but it merely demonstrates a structure that eventually self-destructs. The |Ego| may expand temporarily through its mechanisms, but because it loses integrity, it loses its power. The |Ego| plays its game out of fragility. The game of "Look closely at what I have done" is played for the purpose of boosting self-esteem, but since the motive is to "take revenge," it ultimately fails. From a higher perspective, the entire game is of the "So what?" variety.

【Q: Why do we cling to such self-destructive behavior?】
A: The |Ego| reacts with anger when its secret source of self-reward is about to be exposed. When its structure of control is threatened, it may become so enraged that it could lead to murderous acts. The |Ego| has barely managed to acquire a secret substitute for God and is surviving through short-circuited love. Therefore, no matter how miserable it may be, it will never let go of its secret source of supply. Outwardly, the |Ego| seems to protest against pain, but inwardly, it welcomes it with open arms.

【Q: Is this a price that must be paid to realize the |Self| (the true self)?】
A: To the |ego|, abandoning its self-rewarding mechanism would seem like a loss. Since the |ego| does not believe in God, it thinks that it alone is responsible for maintaining life and providing pleasure. The |ego| does not trust God, but rather its own unique mechanisms. Because the |ego| has no other experience to compare with, it clings to this error and refuses to let go. The only way to escape from this is to believe that there must be a better way. Only when the |mind| fails to obtain the happiness it desires and awakens from the delusion of its own misconceptions can it finally listen to and explore spiritual truth. And only then does it realize that the distorted pleasure squeezed out of pain is merely a poor substitute for true joy.

【Q: So, the time eventually comes when one's interest in spirituality ripens.】
A: At some point in life, it arrives as a turning point. Even if it requires many cycles of reincarnation, when disappointment and defeat have "hit rock bottom," an inner light shines through to save us from the depths of despair. Once you reach that point, the remaining lifespan of the |ego| is short.

【Q: What kind of sacrifices must be made?】
A: A great leap is realizing that the source of joy and happiness lies beyond the |ego|. Then, interest and curiosity arise regarding how one can achieve a spiritual purpose. Next, faith emerges, supported by trusting and ultimately experiencing. Then, information and explanations are obtained, and opportunities are given to practice what has been learned. A devoted attitude of willingly surrendering all obstacles to God follows, and by inviting it in, spiritual energy is heightened. The attitude of offering one's own life to God brings joy and gives new meaning to life. Feelings are uplifted, and within a larger |context|, greater significance and value are brought to life. Then, one refrains from any act that supports negativity, whether internal or external. It is not refrained from because it is wrong, but simply because it is futile, so one ceases to pay attention to it. The journey toward God begins with disappointment and doubt, but this gradually turns into conviction. Thus, the path is very simple.

【Q: What is the true meaning of [surrendering to God]?】
A: It means abandoning control and the secret satisfaction gained from the position of the |ego|. One turns only toward love and God, for that is the source of life and joy. We can choose this at every moment. If we can ultimately choose it, the reward is immense. By inviting it in, spiritual awareness illuminates the path. The key is your willingness.

【Q: Aside from cases where one is already on the right path, how should one recognize God?】
A: The first sign of God's presence is the sprouting of curiosity and interest in spiritual matters. This is proof that there is a crack in the dam of the |ego|. And if you are taking action to seek a spiritual goal or starting to look for spiritual information, God is certainly being invited into your life.
When the desire to surrender all obstacles to love and God is born, God already resides within the form of willingness. And when you reach the level of devotion, the |ego| dissolves due to the presence that has already become dominant, and the path is illuminated. Spiritual growth and discovery are accompanied by joy. And this joy is the radiance of the "|ego|" and instantly replaces the surrendered position of the |ego|. With every step forward, spiritual intuition increases. When the self stops focusing on the world or the |ego|, one discovers that the "|Self|" (the true self) has been the source all along.

【Q: Is there anything else to surrender besides the secret rewards of the egoego?】
A: See through the illusions of the mindmind and realize that the mindmind actually knows nothing. This is an attitude called humility, and humility opens the door to enlightenment, revelation, and the intuitive state of knowing.
Because the mindmind seeks meaning, it falls into circular reasoning and arrives only at its own arbitrary interpretations of meaning. In "Truth," there is nothing that has meaning, and there are no characteristics to be recognized. All things simply exist as they were created, and in that, they are complete and perfect. All things simply exist and fulfill their purpose. All things are realizing their essence and potential. The only thing "required" of everything that exists is simply to "be." The mission defined under the conditions of each moment is already perfectly fulfilled. Therefore, the way things are now is the realization of all past possibilities. Everything exists exactly as it should be. The corresponding level of consciousness observes how the essence is fulfilling its potential. In the nanosecond of observation, nothing is changing. The only thing that changes is the perspective of observation. Change merely reflects the process of perception.
Life can be compared to a series of still images—the same as a picture-story show seen in childhood. Then, a mystery arises: is it the world that is moving, or is it the mindmind?

【Q: Then, is it impossible to be imperfect?】
A: All things are as they are within their absolute self-identity, but the habit of the |ego| (ego), which biases perception and standpoint, makes it extremely difficult to observe this. Rust on an iron plate perfectly expresses the oxidation process. Iron exposed to moisture becomes iron oxide. That is all. It does not 'do' anything; it simply 'is' that way. Only the external form is transient. Truth is eternal. It is obvious to the eyes of the |Self| (true self), but it is invisible to the 'I' that is the personal |ego| (ego). In every moment of observation, all things are always perfect and complete. Value and meaning are decorations projected by the |mind| (mind), based on preferences for specific attributes or characteristics. It is the same as someone who likes wild, natural-looking Christmas trees preferring a crooked tree over a straight one.

【Q: Can we transcend the illusion?】
A: Reality for the |mind| (mind) is fiction. Once that is understood, the mind loses its power as the supreme authority. To the eyes of the |ego| (ego), life appears like a kaleidoscope constantly shifting from likes to dislikes, from fear to fleeting pleasure. The |ego| (ego) tries to find safety in a standpoint it overestimates, but as it matures, it begins to search within for reliable, unwavering qualities. However, without spiritual guidance and information, it does not know where to turn, and it inevitably falls back on basic survival tactics that only have practical value.

【Q: How can one survive without having a mind?】 A: The mind has a 'thinking mind' and an 'observing mind.' The latter's awareness is autonomous and encompasses all life situations. Furthermore, it is based on a state of knowing rather than thinking or analyzing. In other words, it functions spontaneously and quietly, rather than computationally. Also, awareness reflects a different operating principle, showing a more global and gentle response. In short, it recognizes the big picture and responds appropriately. The observing mind is not swayed by humble stances or value judgments, nor is it driven by fanatical behavior. It is calm, gentle, and prefers to observe rather than participate in the drama of the world. The observing mind is not caught up in worldly notions of profit and loss. We call this way of engaging with the world 'relaxed' or 'enlightened.' While the ego's thinking mind laments, 'How terrible,' awareness sees this as just one scene in the ups and downs of life, understanding that in the end, they are all the same.

【Q: Isn't that a passive attitude?】
A: To the ego, peace appears passive and inactive. This is because the ego perceives things from the perspective of "doing" something—dominating, acquiring, or avoiding. The ego speeds down the highway, exceeds the speed limit, and watches out for police cars. It gets irritated at slow drivers, tailgates them while spewing curses, honks its horn, and cuts them off at curves. It drives while driven by the urge to beat the clock and cut into lines. If there is a driver in front, it shakes its fist and vows terrible revenge. Even while committing these outrages, it is strategizing for work, using a cell phone, and listening to the radio. Conversely, the aware mind rides the flow of traffic and happily yields space to the poor soul cutting in front. The relaxed perspective of awareness is also directed toward others.

【Q: Isn't such a relaxed posture useless?】
A: This posture focuses on the big picture rather than the act. The ego relies on force (negative energy), while the spirit is influenced by power (positive energy). Awareness knows that in the long run, it is not what you did, but who you are and how you have grown that matters. One overheats the situation, while the other calms it.