Page 199 - The Path of Grace

RINGS OF EGOISM
In this third stage the Ego adopts the posture that it is ‘mind’ that is the doer of things and holds that all actions are due to the accumulated ‘idea power’ ( termed as samskaras, effect of karmas etc.) that is the doer and the individual is helpless. This aspect is the most popular one of the religious/ pseudo religious persons. And many times those who call themselves as Jnanis give this argument. Though there is a truth that all things that happen to us are a result of our past actions, the abdication of responsibility for correction that follows the result of the prior actions is a totally unwarranted journey into sloth and despondency.
In this fourth stage the idea that one, whom he has been accepted as our master, is doing all things. This is a subtle egoism where one continues to dwell in the thinking that it is his master who is doing all things outwardly, and internally all the time feeling that he is the doer. Very many aspirants who travelled the path for considerable time come to this stage and unable to leave possessiveness of things and men because of lack of determination would like to psychologically seek solace in this false hood- I
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