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[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

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The bigger the temper, the smaller the person.

You can measure the substantiality of a person by how easily it is to deregulate them, meaning (through their own complicitness) strip them of their self-discipline (a.k.a. spiritual freedom).

The more sensitive the ego, the smaller and weaker the person is, not so much in the sense of physical size and strength, but in terms of their true self, meaning their spiritual power, presence, and willfulness. Are they a true major force to be reckoned with, or a mere measly negligible sleeping seed of a spirit hidden away deep inside of a puppet body being played by other things and other people? Are they an unconscious pawn or a real player?

Anger is a type of fear, and fear and anger are just one example of the strings of an ego. Greed, comfort addiction, hunger, sexual appetite, and attention-seeking are other strings with which the spiritually unfree can easily be played like puppets.

In terms of fear, spiritual freedom (a.k.a. self-discipline) is called bravery. You can use fear to control a coward but not a brave person, not because a brave person's ego doesn't feel fear per se, but rather because their ego and fear doesn't control them. They are free spirits even when you scare their ego. You can not manipulate a brave person with fear. If you can control someone with fear or anger, they are by definition a coward. And the vice versa is true too: If someone is a coward, you can control them with fear or anger. Fear (and anger which is just a specific type of fear) is just an example. The same goes for all other bodily feelings and urges in relation to which one could be a slavish puppet versus a self-disciplined free spirit, such as discomfort, pain, hunger, and sexual appetite.

Those humans who haven't mastered their ego and who thus are mastered by their ego can accordingly be easily mastered by you or any other person through their sensitive greedy ego. If they can't control their ego, you can control their ego. Easily. And then they become your puppet.

Most humans are not free-spirited (a.k.a. self-disciplined), and thus they can easily be played like puppets.

To have full-fledged honest spiritual freedom (a.k.a. self-discipline) is to cut your would-be strings and become a real boy. Or girl. Or, as Nietzsche would call it, Übermensch, meaning superhuman.

Since most humans are easily manipulated puppets (a.k.a. spiritual slaves), to be one of the very tiny few who has true spiritual freedom (a.k.a. self-discipline) is to be so exceptionally and incredibly powerful, graceful, competent and confident as to at least seem supernatural if not literally be supernatural.

To follow the teachings of my book is to thus feel and actually be like a true god walking among mere mortals.

Many are attracted to these kinds of teachings because of the incredible power and wealth that following the teachings will lead to. But, ironically, fantasies about how you would use the nearly unlimited money and massive supernatural power to fulfill your greediest wishes, to fight off the fears and dangers that make you cower most, and to most fulfill the aims of your envy, anger, hunger, or sexual appetite and such is one of the biggest roadblocks that will prevent you from truly following the teachings.

The power of which I speak is only granted to those who wouldn't use it in the way you would probably use it which is why the power probably hasn't been granted to you yet.

Whether you want the power and money and fame and success, or you want the spiritual freedom and inner peace from which it comes, either way the teachings of my book will give you both if you follow those teachings, but you won't get the former without the latter. You won't get the fruit of power without planting and growing the tree of this peace.

It's a power reserved only for the lovers, never the haters.



With love,
Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
a.k.a. Scott

In other words, if you are a slave to anger (a.k.a. a coward), then anyone that can manipulate your anger can play you like a puppet and thereby become your master. And anger is easy to manipulate.
any-man-capable-of-angering-you-becomes-your-master.jpg (49.92 KiB) Viewed 2658 times

"Calm is a superpower."
- Bruce Lee
calm-is-a-superpower.png (595.08 KiB) Viewed 2659 times

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In addition to having authored his book, In It Together, Eckhart Aurelius Hughes (a.k.a. Scott) runs a mentoring program, with a free option, that guarantees success. Success is guaranteed for anyone who follows the program.

[Surabhi Rani]

Are we unconscious pawns or real players? To have spiritual freedom, one needs to become a real boy or girl, i.e., a superhuman. To be one who has true spiritual freedom, we need to be exceptionally and incredibly powerful, graceful, competent, and confident. The supernatural power has not been granted to us yet, because we misuse it by fulfilling our aims of envy, anger, and hatred. It is a power reserved for lovers. I agree with your thoughts.

[Sushan]

In a world where temperaments flare and egos dominate, this post offers a profound exploration of spiritual freedom versus enslavement to our baser impulses. The true measure of one’s greatness lies not in the loudness of their anger or the depth of their fear but in their capacity to transcend these with self-discipline and bravery. To be unshakable, to cut the strings of puppetry, and to emerge as a self-governed spirit is the ultimate liberation. It's not merely about resisting manipulation; it's about evolving beyond the very reach of it, embodying a state of grace where the ego no longer dictates actions but is instead a quiet companion on the journey to becoming an Übermensch.

[Cristina-Ioana Toader]

I don't agree with the depiction of the ego as a negative element that needs to be conquered or subdued to achieve spiritual freedom. In my view, your interpretation overly simplifies the ego's significance in human psychology. It appears from your text that you propose controlling or reducing the ego to attain spiritual freedom and self-discipline, yet this viewpoint might neglect the beneficial and crucial roles the ego plays in our lives.

The ego has some positive aspects as well:
1. It helps form our self-identity, contributing to our sense of who we are. A healthy ego is essential for self-confidence and self-esteem (accent on "healthy ego")
2. It plays a critical role in making decisions that align with our values and goals. Again, a healthy and well-balanced ego allows individuals to take responsibility for their actions and make choices that reflect their true selves.
3. It can be a source of motivation, driving us to achieve our goals and fulfill our potential. It encourages perseverance.
4. It helps in understanding and respecting others' boundaries while maintaining our own, fostering healthy relationships based on mutual respect.

Instead of overcoming or suppressing the ego, many psychological and spiritual traditions emphasize the importance of integrating the ego in a balanced manner. This involves recognizing and accepting our desires and flaws as part of our human experience while also striving for growth and improvement. Allow me to give some examples:
1. Carl Jung introduced the concept of individuation, a process of integrating the conscious and unconscious aspects of oneself, including the ego. This process leads to psychological maturity and wholeness, recognizing the ego as an essential part of the self but not the entirety of one's identity.
2. Buddhism:
While Buddhism often emphasizes the concept of non-attachment to the ego, it also advocates for a middle way that involves understanding and working with the ego in a mindful manner. Mindfulness and meditation practices in Buddhism can help people observe their thoughts and emotions (which are influenced by the ego) without becoming attached or overly identified with them, fostering a harmonious balance between self-awareness and the transcending of egoic attachments.
3. Taoism:
Taoism promotes living in harmony with the Tao (the Way), which involves a balance between various forces and aspects of life, including the ego. The practice of Wu Wei (effortless action) in Taoism encourages acting in alignment with the natural flow of life, recognizing the role of the individual (and by extension, the ego) within the larger context of the universe, aiming for a balance rather than domination or suppression of the ego.

A balanced approach to the ego involves developing self-awareness, understanding our motivations, and reflecting on our thoughts and actions. This approach encourages personal growth, empathy, and compassion, both for ourselves and others.
In essence, the ego is not merely an obstacle to spiritual or personal development but a crucial component of our psyche that, when understood and integrated healthily, contributes to a well-rounded, fulfilling human experience.

[Chidinma Dijeh]

The first quote emphasizes emotional control and maturity. The second one talks about into manipulation, which can be a toxic approach to relationships.

[Alida Spies]

There is a huge difference between the pain caused by hunger and exercise and the pain caused by cancer or other diseases keeping someone in constant, excruciating pain. In your book, you state: Even in a cancer ward or a war zone, they have grace under fire no matter the fire. Hughes, Eckhart Aurelius. In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All (p. 183). OnlineBookClub.org. Kindle Edition. What exactly does that mean? Someone with inner peace won't fear death.

[Elijah Reuben]

I totally agree. Most people can't control their temperament and they go extra mile to do crazy when they're angry, which they'll eventually regret. If you want to control a hot tempered man, make him angry.

[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

I don't agree with the depiction of the ego as a negative element that needs to be conquered or subdued to achieve spiritual freedom.

Hi, Cristina-Ioana Toader,

I don't recall saying something like that. I suspect you may be misquoting me.

Regardless, can you quote for me the very first sentence in the Original Post (OP) with which you disagree?



With love,
Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
a.k.a. Scott

[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

It appears from your text that you propose controlling or reducing the ego to attain spiritual freedom and self-discipline, yet this viewpoint might neglect the beneficial and crucial roles the ego plays in our lives.

No, that's not really what I am saying. May I ask if you have read my book, In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All? That book explains in more detail what I mean, and says quite the opposite about fighting, controlling, or reducing the ego.

[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

There is a huge difference between the pain caused by hunger and exercise and the pain caused by cancer or other diseases keeping someone in constant, excruciating pain. In your book, you state: Even in a cancer ward or a war zone, they have grace under fire no matter the fire. Hughes, Eckhart Aurelius. In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All (p. 183). OnlineBookClub.org. Kindle Edition. What exactly does that mean? Someone with inner peace won't fear death.

Hi, Alida Spies,

I don't know if you meant to put this in the Mentoring Q&A and accidentally put it here, or why exactly it is here as a comment on this post.

Nonetheless, to help answer your question, I suggest you also read the following post of mine:

A Concentration Camp Survivor Speaks on Inner Peace and Spiritual Freedom (a.k.a. True Happiness and Self-Discipline)

If you still have your question after reading the above topic, please do post it in the Mentoring Q&A.


With love,
Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
a.k.a. Scott

[Cristina-Ioana Toader]

I don't agree with the depiction of the ego as a negative element that needs to be conquered or subdued to achieve spiritual freedom.

Hi, Cristina-Ioana Toader,

I don't recall saying something like that. I suspect you may be misquoting me.

Regardless, can you quote for me the very first sentence in the Original Post (OP) with which you disagree?



With love,
Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
a.k.a. Scott

Hi Scott,

Thanks for getting back to me.

Your discussion of the ego is quite critical and implies the necessity of overcoming or transcending it to attain spiritual freedom. I perceived this as a condemnation of the ego, albeit the initial text didn't explicitly state so. This interpretation arose partly from your emphasis on the negative facets of the ego, presenting it as an obstacle to spiritual and personal progress.
For example, when you say "The bigger the temper, the smaller the person," it suggests a critical perspective, particularly in relation to the ego, implying that certain negative traits, like anger, diminish the individual.

Best regards,
Cristina

[Beatrice Mwangi 8]

I totally agree with you... The guy who doesn't have bigger temper can solve and listen to problems very well without violence or causing trouble in any ways. This person can save alot that could be destroyed by a person with bigger temper

[Stephanie Walker 11]

You're very right. Anybody that can get triggered easily, shows how small they are. People who.are not quick.to get triggered has some level of maturity , and are bigger

[clinton olamide]

A big temper often reflects a lack of control or emotional maturity, revealing insecurity or weakness. Those who can't manage their emotions tend to make themselves smaller by reacting impulsively, diminishing their power in situations.

[Kim Jieun]

I completely concur. Many individuals struggle to manage their emotions, leading them to act impulsively and erratically when angered, often resulting in actions they later regret. Interestingly, a clever way to gain the upper hand with someone who has a quick temper is to provoke them into anger, as their emotional reactivity can be leveraged to influence their behavior.