Beloved Students:

As you watch the summer days move by, it is a good time to inquire within as to how much spiritual progress you have made this year. As you know, 2003 has passed the halfway mark, so it is an important time to stop and reflect upon the year's work and meaning. How much have you increased in wisdom? How much have you expanded your compassion? How are you better able to handle life's frustrations than at the first of the year? How much less are you swayed by the protestations of your own ego?

As you have probably guessed by now, most of what you will be hearing from Me from here forward will be focused on the dissolution of your egos. In truth, that is what remains to be done, for such is the work of enlightenment. Also, because this is a time filled with grand demonstrations of cultural, national, and in some cases, international ego(s), it is a very good time for each of you to do your own "ego reduction" program. For those of you who have spent time and energy on weight reduction, I think you will find notable similarities between that effort and the one now at hand. Perhaps you can apply all you have learned in the area of one to the other.

Our recorded lesson for this month looks at egoic manipulations at a bit subtler level than just the obvious ego manifestations you readily experience. I am hopeful this talk will aid each of you in delving even more deeply into the machi-nations of your specific ego workings. I recog-nize for many Westerners there is a strong tendency to avoid teachings like this one. It seems painful (and ego state) to look beneath the most obvious levels to discover what is really going on in those little ego throne rooms. Often aspirants want to hear from the Teacher only those things which merely stroke the old ego, sometimes literally puffing it up. Often, such is thought to be the best type of encouragement for the aspirant. My intention, of course, is to fully encourage each one of you in your path. But it is crucial at this time (both for yourselves and for the world) to now look deeper. Each must "ferret out" those areas of ego control where ego tries to manipulate both Teacher and Higher Self in order not to hear the deeper egoic truths.

You must always remember that the ego's power to blind you is indeed very strong. In many cases, it (ego) would rather make the Teacher or Higher Self wrong before listening to what may actually be very helpful to the growth process. You can have a sense of this by looking at what areas feel okay to open com-pletely to the Teacher. While you may think you have opened all areas completely, look through your recent experiences with others and just note where someone may have said something to you that really punched a button. Whatever that area, it is highly likely that such is an area of ego control in your life, and some level of blindness, as well. While the individual who seemed to have “punched your buttons” may have been out of line, there is no way you could know that for sure if you were reactive to whatever was said.

If you are reactive to those close to you, you are also likely to be reactive to the Teacher in the same area. After all, I sometimes try to speak to you (and so do your Higher Selves) through the mouths of those who comprise the lining in your experiential garment. Notice those to whom you are not neutral in their commentary on or about your own life. Then ask yourself how your Higher Self could get a message to you in areas where you reject the comments of another before even carefully listening to what they might have to say. Any time you feel reactive to the comments of another, stop for a moment and pay attention to the state of the ego. From a neutral point, try to observe its reactions, but don't identify with them - just watch. It is likely that this will be an area that is well defended by ego. Just recognizing such can help you see some-thing (you discover what) more clearly. The idea here is to stop, take a deep breath, and say, "Okay, Teacher (or Higher Self); what are You trying to tell me?"

Certainly, there will be times when the only message is to let you know you are still carrying an emotional charge in a particular area. But you will find other times when you recognize that there is at least some particle of truth in what is coming to you. Try to listen with the ears of the Teacher, if possible, stepping out of any zone of perceived personal attack. While this may not be easy at first, you will be gaining a skill that you will find immensely helpful in getting you to the goal of being free of the domination of the ego.

You are learning that you must question virtually everything ego gives you - particularly in those areas where you are overly sensitive to input from others. Of course, there is absolutely nothing to be gained from condemning yourself or for feeling embarrassed; so just make a note of the area that is sensitive, and keep asking yourself how the Teacher or the Higher Self might get a message to you in this area. Don't let the ego trip you up by telling you, "If the message were really coming from the Teacher or the Higher Self, it would come in a softer, kinder way." Or, "Since you were so activated, it couldn't have been a message from another plane." If, in fact, you have a good reason for rejecting the message, then reject it. But if the ego mind takes off on the other person ('What's wrong with them?" "Why would they talk that to me?" "How dare they!" "How rude!" etc.), or starts rationalizing and defending, you can be pretty sure ego is having its way with you.

Remember, you can always react later if you really want to. In the moment, just try to decipher what the other is trying to communicate to you and let it in. Notice what it is that you are reacting to. Ask inwardly why ego is so charged on this particular comment, or part of the comment. Try also to locate the point at which you stopped listening to the other. Did your mind go to blaming them for something? Did your mind go to arguing with them (either internally or externally), or trying to prove a point? These reactions are all reactions of ego mind, not Essence mind. Be clear on this point, and allow yourself to tolerate the ego pain in order to distill the Essence truth. Be compassionate with the fact that the entire world is upset in these times, and likely you (and the one who is giving com-ment to you about something you don't want to hear) reflect that upset state in some way, per-haps at a level too deep for conscious recog-nition. Be compassionate with your (and the other's) ego, which might be desperately clutching to what it thinks is its last remnant of control. The good news is that you'll never go wrong by calling up a compassionate response.

Also, try to enjoy the journey. This feat is very important at this time. Give up any notion that the Universe is out to embarrass you in any way. (In fact, give this up on behalf of all those egoic leaders the planet is now trying to contend with!) Remember the power of vulnerability (something they have all forgotten), and generate a flow of wisdom that expands to embrace all the little egoic flaws that arise as signals from the Higher Self to go deeper into the mystery of you and your connection with this magnificent and loving Universe!

Please join me for August (2003) in listening to The Plum and the Proverb, a lecture I gave in Denver earlier this month. Let yourself play with the notions raised in this lecture, and celebrate (as often as you can) the path of cutting through all those little blind spots ego uses to block your growth.

Please continue with the meditation given in June’s lecture.

Walk in kindness and love, blessing all who touch your path - particularly the ones who aggravate, irritate or provoke you.

Your loving Teacher,
Djwhal Khul