tong · August 14, 2024 09:29
diff --git a/H.E.A.D.txt b/H.E.A.D.txt
 Throughout the course of evolution, the human ego has evolved as a critical tool for survival, enabling us to navigate and endure the harsh, impersonal forces of nature. Once essential for distinguishing ourselves from the herd, this once-valuable concept has now become a potential threat to our very existence.

 The ego creates a sense of self, allowing us to declare, “This is me.” In today’s culture, this declaration extends further: “This is what I believe… This is what I expect… This is what I demand.” Our identity as human beings—members of a biologically similar species—depends on this concept. It is within this framework that we, as a democratic collective, have defined what it means to be a person, an individual in the modern world. We assert equality, but this equality is only possible because of an ego structure that demands recognition and validation.

 Yet, the ego is a deceiver. For some, it inflates their sense of self beyond reason, earning the contempt of others. For others, it diminishes their true potential, shackling them with false notions of inferiority and ineptitude. Rarely does one encounter an individual whose self-perception aligns accurately with their true abilities, limitations, or entitlements.

 The ego has become a conceptual trap, its original purpose as an evolutionary tool now obsolete with the advent of civilization and agriculture. Once a guide for survival, it has morphed into a mannequin, measuring our civil rights and collective entitlements.

 Without the ego as we know it, there would be no need for empathy, as we would inherently share each other's pain. Compassion would be redundant, for helping others would be indistinguishable from helping ourselves. The notion of reward for good deeds would vanish, as the act of seeing others well and happy would be reward enough. However, this state of unity cannot be realized as long as our egos persist in convincing us that we are separate—separate from each other, from our planet, from the universe, and from whatever concept of God we choose to embrace.
	Throughout the course of evolution, the human ego has evolved as a critical tool for survival, enabling us to navigate and endure the harsh, impersonal forces of nature. Once essential for distinguishing ourselves from the herd, this once-valuable concept has now become a potential threat to our very existence.

	The ego creates a sense of self, allowing us to declare, “This is me.” In today’s culture, this declaration extends further: “This is what I believe… This is what I expect… This is what I demand.” Our identity as human beings—members of a biologically similar species—depends on this concept. It is within this framework that we, as a democratic collective, have defined what it means to be a person, an individual in the modern world. We assert equality, but this equality is only possible because of an ego structure that demands recognition and validation.

	Yet, the ego is a deceiver. For some, it inflates their sense of self beyond reason, earning the contempt of others. For others, it diminishes their true potential, shackling them with false notions of inferiority and ineptitude. Rarely does one encounter an individual whose self-perception aligns accurately with their true abilities, limitations, or entitlements.

	The ego has become a conceptual trap, its original purpose as an evolutionary tool now obsolete with the advent of civilization and agriculture. Once a guide for survival, it has morphed into a mannequin, measuring our civil rights and collective entitlements.

	Without the ego as we know it, there would be no need for empathy, as we would inherently share each other's pain. Compassion would be redundant, for helping others would be indistinguishable from helping ourselves. The notion of reward for good deeds would vanish, as the act of seeing others well and happy would be reward enough. However, this state of unity cannot be realized as long as our egos persist in convincing us that we are separate—separate from each other, from our planet, from the universe, and from whatever concept of God we choose to embrace.