What does it mean "to abandon themselves to God"?
Pope Benedict XVI defines 'themselves' or the Self/ego as "self affirmation and the desire to put oneself at the center". The Buddha taught that the Self is an illusion, a lie, a construct built by a fearful and power hungry ego bent on maintaining its world within the World; a great, personal filter through which all phenomena, thoughts and emotions are made mine. When the world around us is reduced to 'how is this relevant to me', each individual becomes an island unto himself. Anger, fear, greed, even families fall apart in the race to uphold that frail identity of Me.
Then to freely abandon it, with personal understanding and the application of reason, is a good thing. Not that i don't want to be me, rather, that Me can better be defined by all those around me. How people see me, interact with me, this can better define a person that one's own fearful ego. "I want to be a good person", one thinks. Only if those i encounter see me as 'good' can this idea become reality, namely that i become a 'good person'. We then freely abandon something lesser, something unworthy of our own 'navel gazing' attention. And thus freed of the ego's baggage, we become lighter, focused, determined and resilient, more able to choose our own thoughts, words and deeds, to live in the 'now'.
It's certainly not easy. A monk, through practising mediation and ethical behaviour, tries to limit the rule of Self. Beds are hard because the Self whines that a softer bed would be more comfortable. One eats what one is given though the Self whines that other food tastes better, more salt, less gristle and so forth. The whole way of life goes against the natural desire of the Self to get what it wants. And it is always wanting ... if the monks have it hard, what does that say about the rest of society charging blindly forward, driven by desires and fears?
With no Self ruling, the parable of the good servant (Mt 24:45-51) makes sense, to me. Today, we are not often told to be good servants. "I am a servant of no man" the ego cries! At least, this is the theme i see in popular 'it's all about me' consumerist culture. I always remember Plato's City of Pigs and smile: thousands of years later and humanity is still at the trough. Not putting himself first, the servant is always present for those whom he serves, never wavering, dependable even when the boss is away. He is loyal, faultless (for his motivation to work to the best of his ability comes first) and full of love for his patron.
This boss, lord or patron deserves our commitment and by controlling our ego we shall certainly reap what we sow. And when this lord is God, we reap the grace, glory and eternal love that is freely offered us. God is perfection; with the Self abandoned we are free to climb towards perfection.
From pope Gregory the Great: I am the servant of the servant's of God.
Deo gratias
Pope Benedict XVI defines 'themselves' or the Self/ego as "self affirmation and the desire to put oneself at the center". The Buddha taught that the Self is an illusion, a lie, a construct built by a fearful and power hungry ego bent on maintaining its world within the World; a great, personal filter through which all phenomena, thoughts and emotions are made mine. When the world around us is reduced to 'how is this relevant to me', each individual becomes an island unto himself. Anger, fear, greed, even families fall apart in the race to uphold that frail identity of Me.
Then to freely abandon it, with personal understanding and the application of reason, is a good thing. Not that i don't want to be me, rather, that Me can better be defined by all those around me. How people see me, interact with me, this can better define a person that one's own fearful ego. "I want to be a good person", one thinks. Only if those i encounter see me as 'good' can this idea become reality, namely that i become a 'good person'. We then freely abandon something lesser, something unworthy of our own 'navel gazing' attention. And thus freed of the ego's baggage, we become lighter, focused, determined and resilient, more able to choose our own thoughts, words and deeds, to live in the 'now'.
It's certainly not easy. A monk, through practising mediation and ethical behaviour, tries to limit the rule of Self. Beds are hard because the Self whines that a softer bed would be more comfortable. One eats what one is given though the Self whines that other food tastes better, more salt, less gristle and so forth. The whole way of life goes against the natural desire of the Self to get what it wants. And it is always wanting ... if the monks have it hard, what does that say about the rest of society charging blindly forward, driven by desires and fears?
With no Self ruling, the parable of the good servant (Mt 24:45-51) makes sense, to me. Today, we are not often told to be good servants. "I am a servant of no man" the ego cries! At least, this is the theme i see in popular 'it's all about me' consumerist culture. I always remember Plato's City of Pigs and smile: thousands of years later and humanity is still at the trough. Not putting himself first, the servant is always present for those whom he serves, never wavering, dependable even when the boss is away. He is loyal, faultless (for his motivation to work to the best of his ability comes first) and full of love for his patron.
This boss, lord or patron deserves our commitment and by controlling our ego we shall certainly reap what we sow. And when this lord is God, we reap the grace, glory and eternal love that is freely offered us. God is perfection; with the Self abandoned we are free to climb towards perfection.
From pope Gregory the Great: I am the servant of the servant's of God.
Deo gratias
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