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Ego
Dec 3, 2011 19:45:34 GMT
Post by freethinker on Dec 3, 2011 19:45:34 GMT
Ah, Peace. There is no Peace in this world, within, and for most of us no Quiet either. A few of us, through constant practice and discipline, have found The Quiet Place (sometimes referred to as The Garden). For some unknown reason God granted me a minute in the Quiet Place without that practice and discipline (the lack of which explains why I couldn't hold onto it, or return to it). It was enough to change me from an agnostic to... whatever it is that I've been since.
I have been unclear in the above paragraph, I see. For me there can not be Peace where there is responsibility; but I know now that Silence is possible, and how fine that Silence is.
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Ego
Dec 3, 2011 20:59:21 GMT
Post by withinsilence on Dec 3, 2011 20:59:21 GMT
Ah, Peace. There is no Peace in this world, within, and for most of us no Quiet either. A few of us, through constant practice and discipline, have found The Quiet Place (sometimes referred to as The Garden). For some unknown reason God granted me a minute in the Quiet Place without that practice and discipline (the lack of which explains why I couldn't hold onto it, or return to it). It was enough to change me from an agnostic to... whatever it is that I've been since. I have been unclear in the above paragraph, I see. For me there can not be Peace where there is responsibility; but I know now that Silence is possible, and how fine that Silence is. Don't be so hard on yourself freethinker, your paragraph is very clear as it express your inner state at this present moment and that is beautiful as this is your truth right now. Who knows what tomorrow may bring as the only constant in life is that it changes. We cannot change the world freethinker, even my selfish, dumb-ass, un-accepting self has a hard time not trying to and believing I can't as I know I can but nobody wants to listen to what I have to say. hehehe What do I know anyway? Nothing, I know nothing-ness. How do I know the world can change, because I have and it sounds as though you have. Want proof of this change, are we not both on this site trying to share our experiences and help not only each other but ourselves understand them? Is this not kindness, caring, comradeship, commune-ity? This change, the only true, lasting change is done on the inside and then reflected out into the outside world in the forms of words and actions. It is said that to find heaven one must go through 20 minutes of hell. Why.....because without having suffered one would never recognize or appreciate being brought out of it, to that quiet place you describe as (The Garden). In other words, you don't make saints out of saints, you make saints out of sinners. That quiet place, that silence is peace, is inner peace, and the only reason the world can't hear it is because they aren't willing to listen. Its always there, always has been, always will be and ones only responsibility is to sit back once in awhile and accept it, bask in its solitude, and help others to it, but ever so gently. Live it, share it, don't go out trying to find happiness bring happiness with you where ever you go. Don't go out looking for love, but bring love with you and give it freely because it has no limits. Share the gift, that's why its been given, let not guilt keep you from giving it for this would be a poor use of such an awesome responsibility. "You can't feel bad enough to make anyone feel good!" Wayne Dyer
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Ego
Dec 3, 2011 22:57:01 GMT
Post by freethinker on Dec 3, 2011 22:57:01 GMT
I'm glad for you, that you have been there; it's friggin' awesome, ain't it?
The novel "The Silence of the Lambs" was good, not great. The title is great though. The screaming of the lambs in slaughter must be soul searing, if one permits oneself to hear it.
Sorry guy, my mind works in mysterious ways.
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Ego
Dec 3, 2011 23:48:38 GMT
Post by withinsilence on Dec 3, 2011 23:48:38 GMT
No need to apologize my friend, I get it. Unfortunately most don't hear it because they never listen. Listening is the first step and it usually don't happen until one has failed greatly and is ready to surrender its life to find it.
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Ego
Dec 4, 2011 0:27:07 GMT
Post by freethinker on Dec 4, 2011 0:27:07 GMT
No need to apologize my friend, I get it. Unfortunately most don't hear it because they never listen. Listening is the first step and it usually don't happen until one has failed greatly and is ready to surrender its life to find it. Thank you freethinker for being you. Though we may not see eye to eye, at least we're willing to look in each others and let our truth be known without condemnation, judgment or any of that petty bullshit that people kill each other over. There again our analyses differ. I think most folks hear the first scream. Not just those lambs, but of the persecuted everywhere; then they close their ears, and of necessity their minds, because the reality pains them - and pain should be avoided, eh? There is a common saying in America: "Shit happens." Yeah, it does, and there is 'damn all' I can do about it. But there is a damn little I can do about it, in my neighborhood and my community. If I can just get off my lazy ass, I can do more. Please don't misunderstand my motives. I'm not after more 'credits' with God; I'm pretty sure he won't value my soul more that he does Saddam's - though Saddam's may have required some tuning.
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Ego
Dec 4, 2011 2:58:22 GMT
Post by tathagata on Dec 4, 2011 2:58:22 GMT
No need to apologize my friend, I get it. Unfortunately most don't hear it because they never listen. Listening is the first step and it usually don't happen until one has failed greatly and is ready to surrender its life to find it. Thank you freethinker for being you. Though we may not see eye to eye, at least we're willing to look in each others and let our truth be known without condemnation, judgment or any of that petty bullshit that people kill each other over. There again our analyses differ. I think most folks hear the first scream. Not just those lambs, but of the persecuted everywhere; then they close their ears, and of necessity their minds, because the reality pains them - and pain should be avoided, eh? There is a common saying in America: "Shit happens." Yeah, it does, and there is 'damn all' I can do about it. But there is a damn little I can do about it, in my neighborhood and my community. If I can just get off my lazy ass, I can do more. Please don't misunderstand my motives. I'm not after more 'credits' with God; I'm pretty sure he won't value my soul more that he does Saddam's - though Saddam's may have required some tuning. Hmmm, I wonder how the world would have been different if both Hitler and Gandhi had this attitude about what differance they could make?
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Ego
Dec 4, 2011 5:35:53 GMT
Post by gurthbruins on Dec 4, 2011 5:35:53 GMT
withinsilence, I'm pressing the imaginary "like" button for your post #46.
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Ego
Dec 4, 2011 12:57:11 GMT
Post by withinsilence on Dec 4, 2011 12:57:11 GMT
No need to apologize my friend, I get it. Unfortunately most don't hear it because they never listen. Listening is the first step and it usually don't happen until one has failed greatly and is ready to surrender its life to find it. Thank you freethinker for being you. Though we may not see eye to eye, at least we're willing to look in each others and let our truth be known without condemnation, judgment or any of that petty bullshit that people kill each other over. There again our analyses differ. I think most folks hear the first scream. Not just those lambs, but of the persecuted everywhere; then they close their ears, and of necessity their minds, because the reality pains them - and pain should be avoided, eh? There is a common saying in America: "Shit happens." Yeah, it does, and there is 'damn all' I can do about it. But there is a damn little I can do about it, in my neighborhood and my community. If I can just get off my lazy ass, I can do more. Please don't misunderstand my motives. I'm not after more 'credits' with God; I'm pretty sure he won't value my soul more that he does Saddam's - though Saddam's may have required some tuning. Hummm...I"m a little lost? Don't understand this response?
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Ego
Dec 4, 2011 13:43:36 GMT
Post by withinsilence on Dec 4, 2011 13:43:36 GMT
There again our analyses differ. I think most folks hear the first scream. Not just those lambs, but of the persecuted everywhere; then they close their ears, and of necessity their minds, because the reality pains them - and pain should be avoided, eh? There is a common saying in America: "Shit happens." Yeah, it does, and there is 'damn all' I can do about it. But there is a damn little I can do about it, in my neighborhood and my community. If I can just get off my lazy ass, I can do more. Please don't misunderstand my motives. I'm not after more 'credits' with God; I'm pretty sure he won't value my soul more that he does Saddam's - though Saddam's may have required some tuning. Hmmm, I wonder how the world would have been different if both Hitler and Gandhi had this attitude about what differance they could make? Hummm..I wonder why someone would ask a question they already know the answer too? Thank God there are people like Hitler who waste their whole life and many others teaching us how not to live...but was it a waste or was there a lesson in it? Thank God their are people like Gandhi who spend their life's energy teaching us how we ought to live... What's the cause behind the method of teaching within these two thinking, believing, human beings? I think that idiot that names everything in the world got the names for the human mind and the Cuckoo clock mixed up as the Cuckoo clock keeps perfect, constant, balanced time and the human mind swings from one extreme to the other like a clocks pendulum. hehehe Sometimes I write things I don't necessarily agree with and could be far from my truth to create an inner desire, to stoke the inner fire, to ignite ones will, to cause the reader to go and get off ones lazy, thinks it can't change the world ass so to speak and search for the truth of my seemingly ignorant remark. Did I just say that out loud? god my "Skillful Means" needs some serious, honest, truthfull, heartfelt, sincer work!
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Ego
Dec 4, 2011 13:45:51 GMT
Post by withinsilence on Dec 4, 2011 13:45:51 GMT
withinsilence, I'm pressing the imaginary "like" button for your post #46.
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Ego
Dec 6, 2012 23:26:34 GMT
Post by popee on Dec 6, 2012 23:26:34 GMT
On Ego by Tess Hughes
Two words in this question stand out: ego and quality. And there is a problem with both words in that, since they are in common usage, they have multiple shades of meaning, depending on the context in which they appear.
In order to think clearly and precisely about the question it is necessary to define the words as I am using them. Self-inquiry is all about clear precise thinking about the nature of your own thinking and how that affects your experience. It is a matter of making accurate discriminations between what are usually fuzzy concepts and consequently, hidden and incompatible beliefs.
Freud’s use of the word ego is more or less what we mean by the rational, logical part of the mind. Jung used the word to mean all that we are conscious of, as opposed to what we are not conscious of but which nevertheless has huge influence on us. The Buddhist use of the word ego is about the sense that we are a separate “I” and this causes desires and attachments, which is seen as the root cause of suffering. Vedanta uses the word in the sense of that aspect of us which takes credit for the results of our actions. In other words, the ego assumes we are in control of our destiny. Both Freud and Jung use the word in a psychological sense and its reference is to do with survival in the world, in a broad sense.
Buddhism and Vedanta use the word in reference to spiritual matters and are identifying “ego” as part of the problem in attaining spiritual fulfilment.
I have come across alternative words used to refer to this spiritual interpretation of ego. The ones I have come across include: the false self, the impostor, the self (as opposed to The Self), the little one, the person, the tenant, the faker, and so on.
Whatever the specific definition, it is obvious that the word “ego” as used in a spiritual context refers to something that interferes with spiritual progress.
Attributes, descriptions, essence and features are a few of the many synonyms for quality. Following is a list of ego strengthening behaviours taken from an article credited to Ram Chandran I found on indiadivine.org.
He suggests that you rate yourself with points 1-10 for each ego quality you find in yourself. Add them up and get a rating on how strong your ego is out of 100.
This is not an exercise you can do spontaneously. You need to observe your ongoing behaviours in order to get a true picture of your repetitive patterns. I am using the word behaviours to include emotions and thought patterns.
1. Ego of (Excitement-Grief-Overreaction) -------------- (Uncontrollable Expression of grief and joy and failure to control reckless actions).
2. Ego of (Exploitation - Greed - Oppression) ------------- (Direct greedy action that oppresses and exploits others).
3. Ego of (Exaggeration - Gimmick - Opportunism) ---------- (Gain personal profits through gimmicks and exaggeration of facts).
4. Ego of (Exorbitance - Glory - Ornamental) ----------- (Conduct useless actions that are Glamorous just for personal glory).
5. Ego of (Excuse - Grumble - Opinionated) ------------ (Accuse others for own mistakes and fail to listen due to one's own preconceived notions).
6. Ego of (Embarrassment - Guilt - Oscillation) -------------- (Develop unsteady mind filled with guilt generated from disputed beliefs).
7. Ego of (Extremism - Grudge - Opposition) -------------- (Express extreme views and animosity and organize hostile actions).
8. Ego of (Empty-headed - Guesswork - Obnoxious) ---------------- (Irritating behaviour and lack of respect for others propelled by ignorance).
9. Ego of (Enrage - Goof - Offensive) --------------- (Outburst of anger causes temporary insanity and loss of discriminating).
10. Ego of (Enmity - Gloomy - Obstruction) --------------- (Gloomy facial expression showing animosity and trying hard to be obstructive).
Ego deflating To look at ego deflating qualities, here is a list of spiritual qualities that can be cultivated as an antidote to ego enhancing behaviours:
Love: or compassion is the most important quality to cultivate as it promotes all the other qualities. The love referred to here is not an emotion. It is about behaviour, how you treat others and everything on the earth. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. You do not even have to like them to treat them well. They do not have to notice that you treat them well. You are cultivating this quality for your own spiritual benefit.
Gratitude: for what you have or may not have. It is about learning to look at every aspect of yourself and your life from the point of view of how you can use it to your spiritual advantage. It's about developing an appreciation that you have sight or not, that you have enough to eat, that you can read, that you have various afflictions as a reminder that ego is trying to dominate your experience. It's about developing an appreciation of the suffering that others endure, whether they are aware of it or not.
Tolerance: for whatever conditions you find yourself in. It's about cultivating an attitude of steadiness and acceptance for whatever comes your way. It's about appreciating that no matter what happens here in the relative dimension, it is a passing phenomenon.
Kindness: is about not causing harm or suffering to anyone or anything. The word kindness has its origin in kin, family. Treat everyone as if they are your kin for in truth they are.
Gentleness: is the quality of always intending to add lightness and easiness to everyone in every situation. It's about being ordinary, without artifice and sophistication. It's about being natural and sincere in your dealings with others.
Discipline: is about taking responsibility for taking care of your own needs at all times. Avoid being dependent on others when you can. It's about managing your life so as to reduce crisis and anxiety.
Peace: learn to appreciate contentment over excitement. Simplicity and calmness contribute to feeling of peacefulness, which in turn leads to a quiet joy in life.
Goodness: or rightness is the quality of always doing the right thing according to your values. Regardless of what circumstances arise you have a built in sense of what is right and wrong. All children are born with a sense of fairness and honesty and goodness, which can be uncovered and reactivated at any time, regardless of having gone off course along the way.
Trust: trust in God or whatever created you, use whatever word is meaningful to you. As Bob Marley used to sing, “Everything little thing will be alright.” You are not in control anyway, so instead of trying to be you can develop an attitude of trust that you will be taken care of, maybe not to your liking but in a way that is adequate to your real needs. Gratitude and trust go hand in hand.
The point of spiritual activities is to deflate the ego--the false self--and to enhance the attitudes or attributes that bring us closer to our True Nature. Our True Nature is always with us; it could not be otherwise but the something (ego) that interferes with its expression and recognition needs to be diminished in order to reach a full and final recognition of what/who we truly are at core.
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Ego
Dec 7, 2012 11:19:48 GMT
Post by withinsilence on Dec 7, 2012 11:19:48 GMT
“Agape is a love that flows out of fullness rather than a love that's looking for fullness or wholeness. This is the kind of love that Jesus was talking about.” ~ Adyashanti
EGO= Edging God Out The only part of life you control is movement, movement of your limbs, eyes, and mind/attention and all of these are the result of energy, without energy or life nothing moves.
Thus how you react to life's circumstances or how you move the mind into thoughts and then speak or move the body in relation to the contents of those thoughts, this will determine how you shall feel as this is sending waves of energy through the movements, and sounds you create with your energy. Hence, you control your spiritual ascent as it is in direct accordance with how you use your volition.
The more aware one becomes of the mover of these movements, the greater ones conscious direction of them, the higher degree one rises in its spiritual ascent, as you sow, so shall you reap.
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Ego
Dec 7, 2012 13:39:24 GMT
Post by popee on Dec 7, 2012 13:39:24 GMT
He suggests that you rate yourself with points 1-10 for each ego quality you find in yourself. Add them up and get a rating on how strong your ego is out of 100.
This is not an exercise you can do spontaneously. You need to observe your ongoing behaviours in order to get a true picture of your repetitive patterns. I am using the word behaviours to include emotions and thought patterns.
1. Ego of (Excitement-Grief-Overreaction) -------------- (Uncontrollable Expression of grief and joy and failure to control reckless actions).
2. Ego of (Exploitation - Greed - Oppression) ------------- (Direct greedy action that oppresses and exploits others).
3. Ego of (Exaggeration - Gimmick - Opportunism) ---------- (Gain personal profits through gimmicks and exaggeration of facts).
4. Ego of (Exorbitance - Glory - Ornamental) ----------- (Conduct useless actions that are Glamorous just for personal glory).
5. Ego of (Excuse - Grumble - Opinionated) ------------ (Accuse others for own mistakes and fail to listen due to one's own preconceived notions).
6. Ego of (Embarrassment - Guilt - Oscillation) -------------- (Develop unsteady mind filled with guilt generated from disputed beliefs).
7. Ego of (Extremism - Grudge - Opposition) -------------- (Express extreme views and animosity and organize hostile actions).
8. Ego of (Empty-headed - Guesswork - Obnoxious) ---------------- (Irritating behaviour and lack of respect for others propelled by ignorance).
9. Ego of (Enrage - Goof - Offensive) --------------- (Outburst of anger causes temporary insanity and loss of discriminating).
10. Ego of (Enmity - Gloomy - Obstruction) --------------- (Gloomy facial expression showing animosity and trying hard to be obstructive). useful exercise to contemplate imo I suspect my own personal score was lower than average ..
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Ego
Dec 7, 2012 21:56:25 GMT
Post by withinsilence on Dec 7, 2012 21:56:25 GMT
Wouldn't a low score or number be good? Doesn't that mean that you have a small amount of ego? I look at it that the lower the number the less strong your ego is so a low score is good.
Ego is a word that describes an extreme of ignorant selfishness. a mental state of being absorbed in its thoughts, of an idea of its self. It identifies with the contents of its thoughts whether they be of an extreme superior nature or extreme inferior nature.
ego is a mind created or conceptual identity based in the belief that it is only the skin of the body and the thoughts of the mind and it sees its thoughts as absolute reality.
since these thoughts of "its" mind are the driving force behind its movements because it believes them to be true and doesn't question them, it stays locked in this ever repeating thought pattern/vicious cycle believing it knows who it truly is.
This identity may be at any number of varying degrees of extremity and is not always a strong or masculine fear based entity, it can also see itself as weak, worthless, of little or no value and can be extreme feminine or submissive, either way it does not know itself at the root, it is not balanced or centered and lives its life in disharmony.
It continually looks outside itself for approval/acceptance, lives in fear/insecurity. it blames its outside circumstances for all its problems and how it feels as it goes through life, will not stop talking and listen, it believes it already knows itself and it sees itself as separate from everything else in life. It scoffs at sites like this and would be arguing with these words right now upon hearing them as it always defends its self, and has to justify its "rightness", this false identity it has created because in truth it is scared, as deep down it knows not thyself! If it knew thyself, what approval would it need, what would it need to control?
an ego is a natural part of human nature which everyone is either stuck within the extremes or transcending them or has transcended them. in my opinion all of humanity is evolving and going through continual change, life IS CHANGE.
It is usually not until this false identity has created so much suffering/destruction/conflict/confusion/depression or grave mistakes that cause it to finally stop, sit the f down and ASK; "My God, what have I done, or how did I get into this situation or WHO AM I! This is its opportunity for change/growth and to come to know thyself! Most will return to the old self like a dog returns to its vomit.
The only one who can't see its ego is the one whose lost in it. those who believe they're not lost cannot be found.
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Ego
Dec 8, 2012 15:59:15 GMT
Post by popee on Dec 8, 2012 15:59:15 GMT
Wouldn't a low score or number be good? Doesn't that mean that you have a small amount of ego? I look at it that the lower the number the less strong your ego is so a low score is good. obviously, any such 'ego grading system' is almost a silliness, but having never seen the questions posed in such a manner, I found my reflections on the questions to be of interest on nearly all ten, it seems 'my score' would be at the lower end of the spectrum, which likely is a by-product of many years of serious self inquiry I used to think 'Liberation' was like an axe falling, now I'm leaning towards it being more like a wood chipper .. lol "it .. it .. it .. it .." [ego] I don't think it really exists. I think it is a fiction.
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