The Kingdom of Egoism

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

THE KINGDOM OF EGOISM
At that time, a king named Nimrod (your ego) reigned
within you. You followed him faithfully, trusted him, and
worshipped only him.
The Secrets of the Eternal Book
130
Here is a description of this period from the Midrash:
“The strength and cunningness of King Nimrod became
proverbial. Everyone knew that his arm, aimed at a deer’s
heart, never missed its target. Woe was he who dared to
question that Nimrod was a self-made god, for an executioner
always stood by the side of his throne.”
The Nimrod inside you refers to the natural, fairly
developed egoism that wishes for, and can achieve, anything:
“Everyone knew that his arm, aimed at a deer’s heart, never
missed its target.”
If you remember, your entire life and all your intentions
were focused exclusively on yourself. “What does it do for
me” was the principle you lived by. All of your relations with
others essentially came down to this.
“Nimrod” was always your essence. He didn’t take
anyone into account but himself: “Woe was he who dared
to question that Nimrod was a self-made god.”
In other words, “I’m OK with everything else existing, as
long as it exists under me! I’m willing to accept everything,
I’m willing to pay, but I must be above it all! Because it cannot
be that someone has created me!” This was the reasoning of
your ego: “Nimrod was a self-made god.”
“I come first” was how you felt. You didn’t acknowledge
anyone else, as your inner “Nimrod” ran the show from atop
his throne.
The “throne” signifies power. It is the “Tower of Babel”
inside you resisting the Creator and rebelling against Him.
At the time, you didn’t know that it wouldn’t last, that
your Nimrod would fail, “…for an executioner always stood
by the side of his throne.”
Chapter 3: Go Forth
131
The executioner who always stands by the side of the
throne is your sentiment that anything slightly offensive to
the ego, seeking to somehow obstruct, curb, or oppress it, is
subject to immediate extermination.
Your Nimrod doesn’t tolerate any opposition to his rule.
Remember the times in your life when you felt particularly
pained or upset? That happened when your very essence was
attacked. You felt humiliated whenever someone infringed
upon your “I,” debasing the “holy of holies,” “the god
Nimrod” inside you.