--- In [email protected], "curtisdeltablues" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > This post brings up a major difference from my view and what seems >to > be fairly common in spiritual POVs. It centers on the conception of > "ego" (rebellious or not) and its value in our lives. Rory your > characterization of personal ego seems fraught with distrust as if >it > is an errant child or worse devil, when if fact this concept is > describing as an aspect of our core identity.
Good point, but, that is why eastern traditions use the terms 'illusion' and 'reality'; providing the ego is attached to Sattva that is good though still 'illusion' bound to Samsara (rebirth). No need for a bogey man..... >Let's put aside the > fact that for many here there is a cosmic Self that is touted as our > "true" nature. We wont get very far with that side of the discussion > because I have already said that, although I have had the experiences > that I believe support this POV, I do not share the interpretation of > what these experiences mean. > > The personal identity of our "ego" is not an enemy that we should have > an antagonistic relationship with. I beg to pardon.....unless, of course, you have no problem with HEll or pretaloka of the Hindus, not eternal but no fun just the same! Even in a spiritual view where it > is viewed as the "small" self, it is still a critical quality of your > personal identity. For me "ego" describes the cluster of beliefs born > from experiences that make up my perception of who I am and what my > values are. I believe there has been an incorrect conflation between > the concepts of "ego trip" and "ego" which has unfairly demonized a > core part of our identity, leading to a sort of self-hate or at least > self mistrust. We all know people who seem to characterize being on > an ego trip. It seems to involve a lack of sensitivity and awareness > both internal and external. People who seem to have gone overboard on > the self-regard scale and feel superior to other people. Their > constant need to assert this may conceal their actual lack of > self-confidence but since this type of person isn't paying me by the > hour for discovering their problem so I usually just write them off. ( > unless they are so fabulously interesting that I can overlook their > boorish behavior. I toyed with using "dickheaded" here so I will > include both!) > > Ego strength is hard-earned as we grow older. It is the fine balance > of maintaining an awareness of our limitations in all cognitive areas > as well as a solidity of knowing who we are and what we believe about > how the world works and our place in it. My ego is my friend because > it is the center of my sense of "me". Even if there was a cosmic > great beyond that enlightenment blossoms into, why must our ego take > the rap? Just because my ego is not infinite and perfect, I am > comfortable with the me I have created over the years. I am not in an > inner battle with myself in any way. I make mistakes, but my self is > not an out-of-control deceiver. My hard-earned sense of who I am is > the core of how I can move through the world with integrity and > occasional grace. (OK, very occasionally but yo get my point) We > build our sense of self as we go through life and hopefully by now (I > am not the only person with gray upstairs) we should be comfortable > with who we are on a "relative" level. Don't hate on the ego just > because it knows you want spicy mustard on your sandwich and hate > loud people on cell phones in bookstores instead of being a perfect > infinite eternal whatever. It doesn't get "fulfilled" by expanding > to cosmic status IMO, it is doing fine just as it is. Or if it > doesn't seem to be serving you, get out your belief tool box and give > yourself a belief rebuild. Enjoy cosmic unbounded experiences if that > is your thing, but love your small self too, right now, even before > it's big brother shows up to make you a universally conscious being > (or whatever term floats your boat). > > I am campaigning for the small self! Defending it. Appreciating it. > Loving it (when no one is looking). For everyone who is going on to > cosmic Selves, good for you. But don't forget to dance with the one > who brought ya to the dance in the first place, just because you just > met someone hotter who leaned in during the slow song with a > deliciously well aimed knee. Get your ego some punch, make sure she > is chatting comfortably with friends then take Miss "vertical lap > dance" into the lady's room stall and do the "right" thing. (In case I > have lost the reader Miss. "vertical lap dance" represents the > cherished goal of spiritual traditions, the infinite Self.) > > "self" knowledge is a beautiful thing. True, providing it is established in Sattva.........
