The Hammer Metaphor

We’re going to be describing the ego in terms of a metaphor which will allow us to both visualize the effects of using the ego in the world, as well as understand the necessity for surrendering the ego.

The ego is simply a tool, an automatic duality-creating machine which allows us to experience every possible aspect of life.

Now the problem is not so much that the ego itself exists, but the fact that people are identified with it.

The ego has a useful purpose: to allow us to believe that illusions are a reality and thus experience both the real and the illusory. The ego is simply a tool.

It’s similar to someone using a hammer. When a nail needs to be nailed into a wall, a hammer is certainly a very useful tool. So, people find that it benefits them to use the hammer and thus they pick it up and use it to their advantage. Cool. No problem.

It’s very clear that while you’re using the hammer, the hammer is not YOU, but simply a tool that you are using with which to engage in the process of creation.

The “problem” is that most people think that they literally ARE the hammer and that there is nothing else they can be, so they continue hammering in every activity in life: while talking to others, having sex with a partner, dealing with foreign politics, resolving disagreements, even in talking to themselves!

…and then people wonder why the world is in the shape that it’s in.

If people would simply set down their hammer when the tool was not required, the world would be a much more peaceful and loving place.

As the saying goes, “To a hammer, everything looks like a nail.”

There will come a time when people discover, “Hey wait a second, perhaps this hammer isn’t so useful in this situation afterall. Let’s set it down for a moment, quit swinging this thing, and see if we can deal with this situation without using the hammer. Perhaps people won’t get hurt in the end. hmmm…”

Much to their surprise, it turns out that problems can be solved without the hammer, without bringing the ego into the mix.

With experience and understanding, people can learn to deal with one another without having a dangerous hammer swinging all over the place while communicating.

All it takes to come back to a place of peace and harmony is the conscious choice to set down the hammer and bring in another energy, the energy of Love.

One of the coolest parts about Love is that once the hammer is set down, all the Love in the world arises automatically. It is effortless, joyous, blissful, and automatic.

My invitation to you is to set down your hammer. Surrender attachments to your ego. You truly don’t need it to operate in a healthy manner. It served its purpose, you’ve experienced using it, and you don’t need it to create a world full of Love. If anything, the hammer is actually detrimental to Love.

When you feel the urge to pick up the hammer, that is, you notice the ego arise within you, set it down and release it.

(There are times when using the hammer is appropriate, but it is beneficial to determine when such a time is. For example, the mind can be an excellent tool for solving math problems.)

Usually it will seem almost as if the hammer has a mind of its own, as if it literally JUMPS back into your hand and possesses your arm to make itself swing wildly. This is actually not so far from the truth of how your ego operates.

The ego will try to possess you, to take you over, and then claim that it IS you.

It takes a conscious decision to surrender the ego and the pleasure it gets from “juicing” the negative aspects of life, especially when the ego tries possess you and claim that it IS you. This decision to surrender the ego is made over and over again, moment by moment. It is accomplished by shifting your sense of identity from the personal “me” to the infinite awareness that simply observes.

Gradually the ego will start to lose its grip on you as you simply watch the ego do its thing non-judgmentally, without actually believing that the ego is you.

However, there will be times when the ego gets especially strong and feels overwhelmingly powerful. This is normal and to be expected. The path of spiritual evolution is not a straight path. There are many twists and turns and zigs and zags along the spiritual seeker’s journey towards unconditional love and enlightenment. There will be highs and there will be lows. Knowing this fact in advance will save you lots of guilt when the lows strike and the ego will make you think, “Yikes, maybe I’m actually not as evolved as I thought I was.”

When this happens, simply watch the ego churn inside of you. Watch the beliefs and emotions get all worked up inside. Watch the hammer attempting to take control of your arm and swing itself wildly. Just watch it without thinking that you are the hammer, without thinking that you are the thoughts, beliefs, emotions, opinions, judgments, or mood swings. Allow the energy to express itself and subsequently be released. Allow this to happen without resistance, without trying to stop it, stifle it, or even say it’s somehow bad or wrong. Just allow the energy to flow through you and out.

You are the awareness that is observing the hammer. You are the awareness that is observing the ego.

So watch it. Study it. Notice how it works. Then you can surrender it. You can let it go. You can set the hammer down and realize that it’s truly not necessary to use the hammer in order to live a life filled with Love, Peace, and Joy.

In fact, it is the ego itself, and the identification with it, that is damaging and destructive to life. When the hammer is set down, when the ego is surrendered, life becomes a constant creation of boundless Love, infinite Joy, and exquisite Ecstasy.

All it takes is setting down the hammer.