The Rev

It occured to me the other night, as I revelled in the pathetic beauty of a so almost perfect stone, that our lives are almost exclusively devoted to ego management.

Now, what I mean by this is, we have this picture in our mind that we identify with. We say, "that is me" when we look at it. Describe yourself, and you will describe this picture; because, the fact is, any element of this picture can be taken away, and you would still be. And what we do with this picture is confuse it with Truth, and therefore defend it at all costs. "Who are you calling a liar, fucker!?" etc.

I could, of course, go into how stupid it is, but this is not my true point. The thing I'm getting at here is, what alternatives do you have to living to defend the self-IMAGE? For most of us, happiness is about finding a place where that image is totally secure: to be at peace with one's self, for example. What about abandoning the picture? What then?

I've been playing with this thought all day, and I it's some of the most refreshing mental activity I've experienced in awhile. Little things, like treating life like a video game, and approaching it with a "look for the fun" attitude, have been on my mind alot.

Thoughts?



The Rev

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DeafTones

^ Was a little hard to comprehend the first time, could be that the idea is a little hard to put into words; Nonetheless, I know what you're getting at here. However, I feel that one's self image is something all people will hold whether or not they realize it or want to; Its really the DNA that does it IMO.

Hmm, now alternatives to defending one's ego, I'm a tad bit stumped here as I am relearning how to gain my self-image back after being clean of all drugs (including herb, excluding alcohol ) I suppose one could naturally act to everything in their life. For example, you and a friend are talking, and the friend finds something funny. You do not have to laugh if the topic doesn't naturally make you laugh, yet you laugh anyway; kind of forcing that laugh out in a sense to feel connected to that person or enhance a part of your ego.

Just some of my thoughts here Rev. They're ^ a bit uncollected but I haven't had much time to think about this particular subject yet. I to have been thinking about topics like this for the past couple months now however.

Great topic nonetheless
Def

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JcP

synchronicity for the win!!

The book I'm reading has been going on about this very issue since page 1.

I think the key is knowing that who you are is and always will be secure. Because YOU ARE.

The ego and self-image, however, is NOT you, but a role you are playing. It is a lie.

The book makes this great point sort of like this: you are walking down the street. You see a woman coming towards you.

You immediately think "her dress is too short. She has awful hair. She is wearing tennis shoes from the same store I shop at."

Likewise, she has thought "he wears a lot of black. He is really tall for an italian guy. He eats too much."

So when two people meet, there is actually the meeting of 4 distinct self-images.

You have your image of yourself.
You have her image of you.
You have your image of her.
You have her image of herself.

And yet NONE of these are the real thing: you and her. It's all ego.

This reality, perhaps, is a place to rid ourselves of this disease. This disease of constantly UNCONSCIOUSLY affirming what the ego loves to hear: I am not good enough yet. I need MORE. MORE.

I need to be successful at work. (re: if I don't succeed at work, I am a failure at life)
I need to find a lover (re: If I don't, I am a failure).

Needs and wants are completely ego based.

You already ARE.

look for the fun? That's just another ego complex. It implies you don't have it yet. Unconsciously the ego has already assigned a new identity to you: I am the person who tries to have the outlook of looking for fun in life.

aknowledge the self-delusion. Through awareness there is no delusion. If you are aware, you are not unconscious. You've brought the issue into the light.

The true Rev is the observer. The LISTENER, not the voice in your head.


This shit totally gets me jazzed too. I might have gone off on a tangent here, but it's late and I'm not proofreading this.

__________________

Just look out around us, people fightin their wars...
They think they'll be happy when they've settled their scores...
Let's lay down our weapons
and hold us apart
be still for just a minute
try to open our hearts
MORE LOVE.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rev It's not what you see, it's that you're looking.

Mictlantecuhtli

What if there's an ego there for a reason? To protect our fragile minds maybe?

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I'm in love with Mary Jane, she's my main thing. She makes me feel alright, she makes my heart sing.

DeafTones

Yes there is awareness, but it's somewhat a double-edged blade. Awareness is just one of a handful of techniques, and if overly used I feel it can lead to paranioa or self delusion, which is putting the person back at where they started.

Very useful/helpful, just in moderation from here to there. I've run into this problem a couple times, more of just backing one's self out of the corner, but going backwards is an undesirable feeling/effect.

Great reminder though, I almost forgot about awareness
Def-

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verklingen

Integrity lies within a devotion for self, for whom, being unique, no foil lies within infinite existence.

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“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

JcP

interested in knowing how you can be too aware of one's self. Can you elaborate on what you're trying to say?

__________________

Just look out around us, people fightin their wars...
They think they'll be happy when they've settled their scores...
Let's lay down our weapons
and hold us apart
be still for just a minute
try to open our hearts
MORE LOVE.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rev It's not what you see, it's that you're looking.

JcP

Indeed. But if everything is there for a reason, then so is the want to dissolve the ego. To empower our fragile minds, maybe?

__________________

Just look out around us, people fightin their wars...
They think they'll be happy when they've settled their scores...
Let's lay down our weapons
and hold us apart
be still for just a minute
try to open our hearts
MORE LOVE.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rev It's not what you see, it's that you're looking.

The Rev

What's the title/author of the book? It sounds really interesting. I've been reading Krishnamurti lately, myself.



The Rev

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DeafTones

You know, I suppose now that I've had a little more time to sit with my thoughts here, one can't be too aware of themself; It's rather what the person decides to do as a result of being aware.

I seem to have confused self-monitoring & the decision one makes to either change or remain their ego with being aware; The three can be closely related sometimes. My bad.

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JcP

Amazon.com: A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose: Books: Eckhart Tolle


it's not as woo-woo as I guess his first book was (which I will pick up because I really like how he thinks). It's almost entirely about the ego. It really makes sense to me. If you still have a bad taste in your mouth from the first book of his you read (if I remember correctly), I really do suggest giving this one a second chance.

__________________

Just look out around us, people fightin their wars...
They think they'll be happy when they've settled their scores...
Let's lay down our weapons
and hold us apart
be still for just a minute
try to open our hearts
MORE LOVE.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rev It's not what you see, it's that you're looking.

Mictlantecuhtli

But isn't losing your ego a sad feeling? I get depersonalization sometimes and it's the lonliest feeling in the world. From what I've read that's sort of like ego death.

__________________
I'm in love with Mary Jane, she's my main thing. She makes me feel alright, she makes my heart sing.

JcP

that's your ego talking .

"I'm not good enough without X. I need it. I need it. I need it."

true ego death, in my opinion, is a place of peace. A place without the judgement of sadness. Everything simply "is."

__________________

Just look out around us, people fightin their wars...
They think they'll be happy when they've settled their scores...
Let's lay down our weapons
and hold us apart
be still for just a minute
try to open our hearts
MORE LOVE.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rev It's not what you see, it's that you're looking.

R1bal

Idk if this is off topic, but are any of you the kind of smokers who "observe" people and see there true person. I have one friend whome I smoke with occasionally and when were with friends we have a good time, but then when were alone he tells me he observed them. It's not a way of talking shit or looking down on people its just seeing the people for who they really are and you can tell if there liars, fake, real, chill, and so on. I thought it was the weed that made me think like this but maybe the weed brought out my true self. The "observer".

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Mictlantecuhtli

I was trying to be as objective as possible. I didn't say I'm not good without my ego I was just asking anybody who has experienced a loss of the ego what it's like and if it's sad. I've lost all sense of my self but I don't think I've ever lost my ego. Or is the self the ego? Either way it sucked.

__________________
I'm in love with Mary Jane, she's my main thing. She makes me feel alright, she makes my heart sing.

verklingen

It's not about losing your sense of self, it's about gaining a sense that extends beyond the self.

__________________

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

Mictlantecuhtli

So usually when people lose their ego they feel connected to the universe? A oneness?

__________________
I'm in love with Mary Jane, she's my main thing. She makes me feel alright, she makes my heart sing.

JcP

It's BEING.

It's not "I am being."

The difference is one is through the lens of the ego. "I am X" instead of simply "I AM." And "I AM" is not a thought, but an awareness.

The dissolvement of the ego is not a feeling. It is awareness.

The book says it like this: Being ruled by the ego is equivalent to being conscious.

Dissolving the ego is the equivalent to being conscious that you are conscious.

In other words: it's the difference between DREAMING and LUCID DREAMING.

__________________

Just look out around us, people fightin their wars...
They think they'll be happy when they've settled their scores...
Let's lay down our weapons
and hold us apart
be still for just a minute
try to open our hearts
MORE LOVE.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rev It's not what you see, it's that you're looking.

espiex

Letting go of the self image can be very rewarding, but damn it's hard.

Most of us will only approach complete ego loss when deep in meditation or under the influence of a powerful chemical, it's not like you can go about your regular business while simply 'being'.

But just trying your best not to care too much about what others think of you, not obsessing over whether the image you project is good enough, smart enough, attractive or tall or thin enough, is so liberating.

Just take a look at the people who care only what others think of them. New car, maybe a nice boat or a big house in a good neighbourhood... It's a fate worse than death.

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-=|=-

verklingen

You don't let go of the self image, you let go of your attachment to the self image in favor of an attachment to your surroundings by taking your appropriate place within it. It's integration. It's trust. It's the ultimate therapeutic tool.

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“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”