Snake Poison

Acknowledging the fact that "I Exist" is not evil in and of itself. It's when one believes "Only I Exist" that trouble starts. If one believes "I Exist, along with everyone else in the world and the whole universe" I think this is the proper perspective to have. Having this perspective will not lead a person to hatred, jealousy, greed or any other negative trait. This is the proper way to exist.

i disagree on this, i am sorry but you need the "I" !

Dear Honourable Rabbi Freeman:

I always ensure that I read your comments. Your innate wisdom is mind-boggling - it is simply shocking that it still thrives, and grows in today's climate of spectacular falsehoods, distortions, self-serving attitudes, and utter lack of common sense.

I am very very deeply grateful that you make your gifts available to those such as I, who still seek, desperately, to grow and understand.

Todah Rabba

Reciently while learning how to write a resume for school we where instucted not to use the "I " if we could help it. We the students where told to write how we could be of service to whom we where writing this resume for.
Another way to look at the "i" is if I don't know who I am or if I have never experienced pain how can I help others or feel thier pain?
I is not allways selfish and be a service. I can be used to find out who I am!

Usually, I love your daily offerings.This one however, is way too esoteric. What does it mean? Just say it.

I actually think you are on the mark with this comment.

The poison of "I" starts from the core-I have this opinion...and inside this core you are being told to listen to the force to deveop your "I" or Ego over all other beautiful beautiful parts that make up the whole of you. Now this force..is very very strong like a tidal wave and it makes you feel that you must must be STRONG in this world and even LONELY and STRONG which is almost funny...noone sticks up for you then certainly wait till someone does certainly you are nice enough.

How can jealousy and pride exist without the "I"?

For explanation see "Where the Self Lives" thought in this section

The Rebbe may mean that many things that we see as GOOD or BAD if we would only percieve them for as they truly are - realities INDEPENDANT OF our true selves, and not percieve them AS our selves, they could be used as major assets. Example: Jealousy, a GOOD thing or BAD thing? Well, look at what it IS: man percieves that X belongs to him, even though in truth it does not. That is not GOOD or BAD, it just is an INCORRECT perception of reality that may stem from one of a numer of causes. Jealousy can Motivate man to do GOOD or BAD, and man is able to choose. If MAN - the true I - chooses, then he may use jealous feeling toward GOOD. However, if man percieves this feeling of jealously to mean that X really does belong to him then this scewed perception of reality can lead him to do terrible things. Man can be motivated to perform well on the basketball court or in his studies, & Man can be motivated to act like a jerk. "The snake is...only evil because of...the poison of 'I exist'"