you left behind.
       A person who does not have a life centered in Reality is
compelled to drain the emotions of friends and enemies; such
an egocentric soul needs friends as well as enemies to fulfill
his craving for life. A craving for vitality begins at the ego
level and goes on to express itself in a variety of destructive
ways. As long as you need people, you will hurt or be hurt by
friends and lovers; you will also compel enemies to go on
being enemies.
       Before the time of Grace, we obtain energy through
many different debilitating love-hate relationships. Our ego
thrives on environments of war and intrigue. Hoodlums
degrade hapless victims and each other for "kicks." Overbearing
parents and teachers do it to the children, who inherit the
know-how to degrade one another to retrieve the life taken
by those mindless and devastated authorities.
       When you respond in a wrong way to intimidation, you
lose some of your life essence and at the same time you
become initiated to worldliness; you become just like the
people who "get to you." A social chain gang is formed; the
big sinner preys on the weakness of the little sinner, who in
turn lives at the expense of a lesser sinner, all the way down
to babies and other defenseless persons. All of us have
someone we can lord it over. Feeling secure and fulfilled
from them, we can forget the painful fact that we are victims
ourselves.
       You are probably unaware that your corrupted nature
has acquired certain annoying patterns and mannerisms,
quirks of behavior that are unconsciously timed to siphon the
life out of those around you. Sarcasm, the tone or timbre of
your voice could do the trick. If you say one thing but mean
another, that upsets people and can make you feel good.

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