Just caught another flick over the weekend – “The Pope’s Exorcist.” Not exactly mind-blowing, though. From a cinematic angle, the ending felt rushed, demon dispatched way too easily, and everything wrapped up all neat and tidy, devoid of any twists or turns. Can’t deny, the ending was rather bland. But hey, the movie did manage to keep things interesting and thrilling for the most part.
Kicks off with a quote from the main man himself, Father Gabriele Amorth (kudos to Russell Crowe for the stellar portrayal), saying, “When we jeer at the devil and tell ourselves he does not exist, that is when he is the happiest”
Reminds me of a chat I had with my teacher, this down-to-earth physiotherapist turned spiritual sage, barely 32, diving into the wisdom of the early Gnostics.
According to him, that whole devil deal is not some external dude hanging out in a fiery pit. Nope, the devil, as all those holy texts talk about, is more like a bunch of self-serving attitudes hogging the spotlight, keeping us from truly being human. The Gnostics tag these attitudes as “Egos,” sort of like the 7 deadly sins crew – Ego of Anger, Ego of Pride, Ego of Fear – you get the drift.
Egos, they say, are mindsets that hijack our true awareness, our real bliss, and the raw truth. That quote rocks because it hits home. I have fibbed to myself plenty – “I am a Good Guy”, “My intellect’s a gift,” or “Recognition? Nah, just after good Roles.” And the best one: “I ain’t greedy, just want what’s due to me.” Hilarious now, considering the number of versions of this quote I’ve heard while toiling away in the corporate jungle.
In the flick, the Pope throws this zinger at Father Amorth: “Your search for truth is delightful, Gabriel, but pay attention to your desire to educate. Pride manifests itself in many forms”
Not just cool, it’s downright brilliant. I so resonate with that quote and my wife was quick to turn to me and say- “That was meant for you Sagar” …phew…Trust wives to throw the truth so plainly at you. All I could do was smile and say “yeah true but hopefully not anymore”
Returning to my lessons, failing to acknowledge these Egos within me actually fueled their growth. The more I convinced myself that I was solely pursuing what I rightfully deserved, the more my Ego of Greed and Ego of Pride gained strength. I even found myself outright demanding figures and promotions during the early stages of my career.
“I am a good guy, a good manager” – my biggest bane. It’s kept me blind to the times my choices, work or personal, hurt folks and relations. Hurt, shrank, and exposed the worst. And the reasoning? “I’m a good soul, but gotta stand up for me, right? Someone gets hurt, it’s strictly business.”
The lesson I’ve embraced from my personal journey, taught by my mentor two years ago, is clear: the more I reject the influence of my Egos, the closer I draw to genuine happiness.
Looking ahead, I aspire to kindle inspiration in others, guiding them towards their authentic purposes, helping them identify their Egos, and ultimately fostering their happiness.