| Many of us become confused at the definition of | | | | to. |
| egoist versus egotist. Let’s take a moment to | | | | We are the desire to receive, which is the exact |
| clarify. The key to the differentiation lies in the letter | | | | opposite of the Creator. As far from being like the |
| “T.” If we associate the letter “T” to | | | | Creator as possible. This desire to receive, this |
| talking, then we can more easily remember that the | | | | separation from the Creator, is what creates our |
| egotist is not shy about his perceived abilities and not | | | | “I.” This sense of “I” is our ego. We feel |
| cautious in talking about them. These are the people | | | | everything inside our skin as “me” and |
| we judge as full of themselves, unless we are this | | | | everything outside is not. |
| person. In that case, we recognize that we are | | | | Back to the question of whether the ego is friend or |
| explaining reality, not embellishing it. | | | | foe. Kabbalah explains that it is neither and both. The |
| The egoist differs in that it represents a person with | | | | Creator created us, so we cannot be evil. This was |
| an ego, which the Encarta Dictionary defines as | | | | the purpose of Creation. But neither is it good in and of |
| “the part of the mind containing consciousness.” | | | | itself. It just is. |
| In other words, this includes everybody. | | | | The concept of good and evil is only pertinent when |
| Well, if we all have an ego, then it must be a good | | | | we take a look at the way we use our desire to |
| thing…right? We value self-confidence, measure | | | | receive. If we use it strictly for our own self-benefit, |
| self-esteem, promote self-respect and worship | | | | acquiring more and more pleasure just for ourselves, |
| “individuality.” Is it not fair to say our culture | | | | Kabbalah defines it as evil. Our pleasure comes at the |
| drives us in this direction from an early age? It is a | | | | expense of others. |
| characteristic of success. | | | | The other option is to transform our egoism so that |
| But is there danger from an overinflated ego? If it | | | | we attain the altruistic qualities of the Creator and learn |
| expands too much, will it convert into egotism? Can | | | | how to give unconditionally. The trick is to learn how to |
| measures be put in place to keep the ego in check no | | | | receive His gifts in order to please Him. Just like when |
| matter how strong and developed it might become? | | | | you go to a dinner party and enjoy the meal. You are |
| Are people with less ego nicer people? If so, should | | | | enjoying the food while at the same time giving |
| we be trying to diminish our ego and strive for | | | | pleasure to the person who prepared the food for |
| eventual elimination? | | | | you. How does this manifest in the world around us, |
| These are interesting questions and a very interesting | | | | though? If we can change our nature so that we |
| approach can be found in the science of Kabbalah. | | | | receive our pleasure from ensuring that other people |
| Kabbalah tells us that there is a Creator, who is all and | | | | receive what they need, then the ego has been |
| everything, complete oneness and unity. The Creator is | | | | transformed into its “good” aspect – altruism. |
| a 100% altruistic loving force because, after all, if the | | | | The science of Kabbalah teaches a methodology |
| Creator is already everything then he lacks nothing. | | | | whereby you take the power of the ego and then |
| The Creator wants nothing but to give pleasure, but | | | | balance it with the altruism of the Creator. Little by little |
| who will receive this pleasure? For this, he created the | | | | we absorb the altruistic, loving qualities of the Creator. |
| creature (mankind) and he gave the creature the | | | | By doing so, we have achieved the purpose of our |
| desire to receive, so he would have someone to give | | | | existence, and egotism will have lost all power. |