bill..thank you..merle Merle,
According to Tolle...the ego is only the ego if it is unrecognized. When it is recognized it is just a set of behavior patterns that you can continue, change or stop. These behavior patters have what he calls a 'momentum' so changing or stopping them is not something easily or quickly done. If you slip back into these patterns without being aware of it then the ego reappears. ASSUMING Tolle's term 'ego' is the same as the Buddhist/zen term 'self'... According to zen (IMO)...the self is illusory. Until it's recognized as illusory it is the anchor for attachments, and attachments are the cause of suffering. When the self is recognized as illusory (experiencing Buddha Nature, 'kensho' in Japanese) the process of dissolving attachments (zen practice) begins. But just like Tolle says that is not an instantaneous thing. It takes work and that work is what I call 'zen practice'. When I hear or read accounts of people attaining COMPLETE enlightenment or SUDDEN enlightenment I ASSUME what this means is they have completely and permanently dissolved their attachments to illusions such as the self. This doesn't mean they no longer have illusions, this just means they now recognize them as illusions and do not form attachments to them. These are my thoughts on this video and the term 'ego'...Bill! --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote: > > > > > having listened to tolle this morning.. > i am brushing up on the word ego... > it appears "ego" has a negativity attached to it.. > > when in reality it is all part and parcel of the mind.. > > what i gather it is important to keep the mind in balance... > > any thoughts on this group?..merle > > > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Id,_ego_and_super-ego >
