Avidya/Ego

[guest88]

Can't disagree with you there. What really caught my eye is as you've said, legitimizing and rewarding the ego is the way of western society. It has been this way for decades... just look at any billboard in the city- we've been pummeled with crap since birth. If hazrat inayat khan and other spiritual teachers- human incarnations have found a way, so can we. I know this is in part why you meditate.

[guest88]

Another thing to consider is what the Ego means to the individual. Without trying to sound to defensive could he have meant Competitive? Was this taken out of context? And to that extent, I wonder how many of us in the West understand the Ego? Growing up, I never saw Ego as a bad thing and we've had some interesting discussions here on how to differentiate personality and ego- something not so easily understood... Are they different? Do people mistakenly associate parts of the personality with the Ego? Just sayin'   

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

http://yogananda.com.au/gita/gita0606.html#:~:text=by%20Paramahansa%20Yogananda%20The%20Soul%20and%20the%20Ego,friend%3B%20and%20the%20self%20is%20its%20own%20enemy.


Most of what reality is for us is determined by how we interpret what is said and what is experienced. There is is often a vast difference between one persons interpretation of what they experienced and another persons. This can be explained by ego. However some people will also claim that the explanation of ego itself is a just a use of a different word to designate what really means someone just doesn’t care... which may or may not be the case.

Unless you can identify the ego in yourself and others…. You can be hopelessly in the dark even though being a kind person doing good deeds. It takes the wisdom of a Master/Guru to help us identify ego in ourselves and others. The person not familiar with long hours of meditation and introspection may attempt or lead you to believe they have no ego or that ego is just a form of denial to things self evident to them. But in fact we see everything through the filter lens of ego. When we meet someone who has a different attitude and view then us but is nevertheless kind and helpful we can be dealing with ego in the form of goodness as well.

Jitendra

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

Amma’s view of ego.

[guest88]

Amen to that, thanks for sharing Amma.

A lot of my thoughts have been on ego tonight too- in terms of things and people. Sometimes it feels like everybody's using somebody- people want what they don't have. When they get it they put it in their closet and move on to the next thing, chasing illusory happiness- and they do the same with people.

Amma is right to say we can find joy by cultivating discipline within- rather than relying on things outside our selves to provide happiness. And to add, a way is made apparent to us when we truly begin to work on our selves. I struggle with this, but when am following a particular path(which is also evolving) one geared towards self-reliance, I am able to see the next steps- feel a sense of purpose and instead of feeling lost I am happy and confident.

Even if Ego peeks its way back in- and where I'm at in life it surely will, it is not my enemy. I understand the joy of existing outside my self but also within my self.

Her call echoes the call of every Guru- because it is One Guru.

Self peace for earth peace.

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

Everyone has there own specific difficulties Eric. When we meet others with similar challenges we often run into similar situations that challenge a relationship. What I do see happening in many cases is not that people are not kind. But rather they can expect others to understand them because they have been kind. In more specific terms; the underlying assumption is that because I have been kind I should be treated some special way, even in the event that the person displays inconsistencies in their behavior. This is a manifestation of ego for deeds done. There is the notion of; ‘After all I’ve done for you, I get this kind of treatment?’ We can be appreciative of what others do without reinforcing their challenging behaviors.

‘Desires and expectations nourish the ego.’  At times we have to let desires go so no expectations will ruin relationships. I think what happens between people is often like a rumor of sorts. Because what we originally said isn’t what comes back to us. When it is filtered through another persons head it is quite different than what we said or intended. Then we kinda think; Really is that what you heard or thought? But then we are called on what someone thought we had said. If we respond we may be told we are judging another person. So sometimes it is better just to let it go. But others may not let it go and say we are running from the issue. Actually we may just need time to stand back, look at ourselves and others and get a perspective on the situation before responding appropriately.

We may find that although people can be very kind in their actions, they also may also have quite an identification with their deeds and not be able to see that the deeds would be better off  as offerings to God and not people. If we have expectations of people or God we may find our desires are not fulfilled. As Amma has said in the video presentation here; the Gurus work is to eliminate our ego, and not to satisfy our desires and expectations.

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

We may start to get insights and observations from meditation and spiritual practice. However we are called to weigh and balance those views, through our encounter with those who come in our lives and have different views of their own. This gives us an awareness of how ego functions in others and in ourselves. How it holds us back from expanding beyond the limitations of our own conscious awareness - that we have unwittingly circumscribed our consciousness within.

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

my posts are not all in frustration.

can u feel hate ?  can u feel envy ? can u feel negativity ?

i used to be able to feel my ex husband miles away before he actually walked thru the door.

it is a yucky type of feeling.   i feel them when i am in a crowd of people.

i believe that john koffy, from the green mile, describes it as shards of glass.....

i describe it as 'pin pricks'....

<IS THAT EGO ??>

(((Love&Hugs&OM))
yoshi
 

Guess I never forget old friends and what they said.

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

When I look back at creations Steve Hydonus has done in the past I sense ego. I do not care to see it in myself and others.

I’m at the point now where it is difficult to spend a lot of time listening, for instance, to some musicians because I sense their ego and it is obtrusive in the vibrations of their talk and vibration. Many times it does not bother us but when we sense other peoples identification with who they think they are and their thoughts are apparent it becomes noticeable.

The more I meditate and attempt to make changes in myself and meditate, the more I sense the vibrations, thoughts and feelings of others around me.

[guest587]

For me, it would be nice not to be ruled by the Ego. At times I am free from such a tricky companion. Other times I have what has been called Spiritual Amnesia because I forgot the bigger picture and suddenly my life was preoccupied by thoughts of self. How this person made me feel. Why I don't like this, why I need that. Suddenly, my days were spent trying to satisfy all the little i's wants and needs... Pursuing health not to serve as an instrument of God, but to satisfy the wants and needs of the little i... And doing so I started getting sick- until one day the sickness freed me from my delusion and reminded me the importance of serving others.

There are many traits we find undesirable, and it's all the easier to see in another person than in ourselves... But with true understanding and compassion- we are not so easily perturbed at the sight of Ego in another person. If we have the ability to help them, then we should try. Be wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove... We might suggest things that would allow the soul to reign supreme in the host body over the Ego... Perhaps by our simply being there we are assisting in liberation.

It's not always easy, we are not Masters... And God refers to us here as Children- even the more advanced of us who lead others towards salvation, this density is not the end all. Sometimes we have to step away, being children, we aren't always quipped to serve. So say you recognize these undesirable qualities springing up around you. It's the intolerance that most disgust us. Once we the ability to understand something, we are not so disgusted. There was something in ourselves still needing clarification, healing...

This is a dance... It's really hard to articulate... On one hand you have Self Peace for Earth Peace- on the other hand the spiritual path is the annihilation of the false self. It takes nurturing the Self in order to be selfless... So now it's understanding self and Self.
Hmm...

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

I used a western word for what is best to be described by an eastern term so there is little confusion. That word is ‘avidya’. Although one of the qualities of ‘ego’ is comparable and that is self-importance. Most of the people that have large ‘egos’ or egoitis are people that do not want our help and feel quite justified in their own avidya. While some of your points are well taken Eric I also find it quite refreshing to have other people come in my life after those who have pride and egoitis leave. Many times the so called ‘understanding’ you speak of is the eventual acceptance that some people make little to no effort at self reflection and in that sense it is just as well to let obstinacy leave our lives….so there is room for better relationships.

[guest587]

Ah~ Joh Juh jOh you see!  Oui Oui? Si! Yo veo!

If you've noticed, I did not say we should bind ourselves to toxic and harmful relationships.

"Sometimes we have to step away"

Sometimes clarity doesn't come until separation occurs.

And sometimes that better relationship, ends up being with our selves!

God is the ultimate relationship. Recognizing God in All. ~~~~~~~AUM~~~~~~~

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

Thought I’d include what Daya Mata had to say about ego…

Setting aside the Ego’s “Agenda”

Also by meditation you become less bound by your desires. It loosens the knots that tie you to a personal agenda of likes and dislikes.  This is what I want. I crave this. The right course is whatever will give it to me. You become more neutral, more objective. It is not indifference or apathy. It is an expansion and clearing of the consciousness, vibrant with the peace and happiness that flow from the presence of God in your soul. Then when a question arises; is this the right thing to do? You can stand back and then impartially ask yourself; is this something I want or just something I want for me? When you have felt that peace of meditation, then say to God; “Lord guide me.” Keep on saying it deeply sincerely throughout the day. Think of God: “guide me bless me”. That keeps your mind receptive and open to inspiration: the silent guidance of God.

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

I look at it as service to self and service to others, and yet I see nothing wrong with dancing between the two. In another thread I posted a very serious question I hope someone out there is interested enough to engage it.

I mentioned the Gita describing the war between King Ego and King Soul. I asked why these two can't coincide, why we can't create great partnership and treat the other as an ally?

“Man’s greatest problem is his ego. His consciousness of individuality. Surrender your ego to God. Destroy the ego before it destroys you.”

Paramahansa Yogananda

[guest587]

Thanks Steve for posting this story by PY. I was just sharing it with someone else. Interesting you'd choose to post the same story.

I have to go for now, and hope to reply more later.