Animal Ego?

[cyberangel]

Do all animals have an ego?
If so, how does it differ from human ego?

[clara927]

Hello Lorraine,

That's a good question. I would think that animals do, most of them at least, because many of them kill other animals to survive. That;s an act of the ego. Also, they often fight others in their species over mates or territory. These are also acts of the ego. Not saying that having an ego is something that needs to be discarded because it allows us to keep a sense of individuality while were here on earth and does in someway assist our survival. However, we should know as should, that we are more than our bodies or our earthly identity and that awareness should temper and subdue the ego. Because if the ego gets out, of control it does destroy, not only whats around it, but inevitably the individual that hosts it. So, to sum it up, I do think animals have an ego. I do think that ours (humans) is more pronounced and thats why we are in the situation were in on earth right now.

[subsidinginsanity]

cyberangel, what I believe is that the one reason why anything ever incarnates here on earth is because of ego. I don't think that there is ego in Heaven, and I don't think a sane mind would ever choose earth over Heaven. Having said that, it seems things are different for animals. The animal kingdom is full of murder and cannibalism. I don't think it affects animals Spiritually the way it does us when we do those things.

This is a great topic. Kudos for posting it. I look forward to seeing people's replies.

[wayne]

Animals behave according to their nature. In other words, animals do not have an ego because they adhere to the role they have adopted when on earth. Humans is another matter all together, because most behave according to their ego. A human's purpose for coming into earth is to rid the ego by winning Realisation of their Higher-Self. But VERY few ever attempt this as they get caught up in all the glitter of the world and forget their sole purpose for coming.

[subsidinginsanity]

neon, what is the difference between animal nature and ego?

[wayne]

If we look closer at evolution we will find that man has evolved up through the animal kingdom in becoming human.
When an animal comes into the world they come with the role assigned to them – which is that of an animal. An animal’s mind is limited and remains on the level of an animal only as it cannot go any higher according to the purpose it has come.

But a human is able to climb to the heights in reaching that of a godman. Though what stops man from achieving this is his ego, it hides his true SELF causing him to believe that everything in the material world including his own physical self (the small self) is all that matters. Whereas sooner or later everything including himself will fall away. But in time he will be able to rid his ego with the help of God. The divine purpose is for man to come into the world to find his higherself, that which is god.

None other than man (human) can attain God Realisation. This just goes to show how special man indeed is.
We have here on earth the illusion that traps man into thinking that he is the body only, with a name. When man thinks this way he then believes that everything he attains in the world is his. Whereas everything belongs to God. Man’s ego blinds him in believing this, it causes all his griefs and sufferings and pulls him further down in ignorance.

What man attains is granted him through the grace of God. But man cannot see this, yet.

The ego covers man’s identity of his true self and makes him think he is something quite different. This is the role of the ego. In fact the ego acts as if it’s an entity all its own.

As for animals, they cannot think above that of an animal, so they must remain on the level for which they have come. Therefore there is no ego covering the Self of the animal.