Enlightenment: The Ego, what is it? How to transcend it.

[Beren]

Posted by truthseekerdan (here)
LOVE IS -- good/evil = mind illusion

good is a part of Love thus IS... even illusion is a part of Love so we can all experience various stuff.
Thing is never to forget that!

You` re in a tricky mood tonight , tricky Dan

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Posted by greybeard (here)
Oh the boss is calling. I must bid you good night from Scotland.

Chris

Goodnight , ye olde!
Farewell tonight and bring back the morning song!

[DeDukshyn]

Chris, You response was very pleasant, well put, for a complex topic - I'm sure we could get quite deep with this. I like to gain as many different perspectives from as many people as I can even if feel I am well versed in a topic. If I made you think, then I did what I do Blessings.

[Maria Stade]

Yea good is good say the suorse !
Thank you !

All Love

[truthseekerdan]

If you want a definition Beren... Good = No Ego

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=I9Ex3BqEub0

https://youtube.com/watch?v=I9Ex3...402D92A15AB73A

[DeDukshyn]

Good and evil are judgements. and Loving and fearing are directions. STS and STO are qualities. I Our language hasn't near enough proper distinctions - the different ways the word "ego" can be interpreted is proof enough of that. The Inuit have I think 8 words for snow. each to convey certain characteristics - I find english lacks these distinctions. hmmm. Off Topic here sry but, I wonder if our language was restricted on purpose? English does actually have ~600,000 words (1 million by some accounts - yet most of the common internet sources say its a silly question and give no results) but yet we use on average 40,000 - 70,00. Maybe a new thread ...

[truthseekerdan]

"As I look back from today's perspective, I can see how perfect it has all been - the 'bad' bits and the 'good'.
These are just labels that come from the perspective of Mind that sees everything as duality and polarity,
while Consciousness sees the unity of everything. The 'bad' bits have been just as important, often more so, as the 'good'.
They are all threads in the same tapestry called experience."

~ David Icke

[greybeard]

God is One without a second.
Its great to be having a conversation here.

So if we look at non duality we have a sliding scale of Extremely good, good quite good, till good disapears off the scale and we are left with absence of good.
In the eyes of God and dont take this too literally. absence has no reality it is non existant. Dark is the absence of light. You cant shine dark but you can shine light.
Darkness has no substance no form it is an absence it does not exist in the light of love.

God only knows Love
The rest is mind constructs.

In non duality there is no need for opposites. just degrees of Love degrees of what is.
One without a second no need for opposites.

In duality we need bad to define good.

That is a major difference.
The difference is in the thinking, in the Mind.
Change the mind change the way of being the way of acting.

Eventually NOW One is left with Awareness, thinking = analyzing and is unnecessary in that all knowing state, which is called enlightenment.

Namaste

[Ernie Nemeth]

"The smarter you are, if smart is measured in IQ, the longer this process will take. IQ is based on thinking. IQ is based on a time/space reality." by allhealing.
No wonder it is taking me so long to reach enlightenment...

[greybeard]

Hi Ernie
The advice of Ramana Maharshi (my Avatar)
Use the thorn to remove the thorn then throw both away.
So the intellect-- rationality is very important in investigating the mind,
So logic reveals what the ego is up to and becomes aware of mind programs, conditioning concepts cherished beliefs and becomes willing to let them go
Next step is to surrender the pay value each time the ego wants to take credit for some action.
When all the obstacles are remove the Self shines forth revealed in all its Divine Glory.
Self-realization it is called, enlightenment by any name etc.
Awareness without thought.
The caterpillar has become the butterfly.

Namaste

[truthseekerdan]

Hi Ernie,

One can be smart, but not necessarily wise.

Wisdom comes with becoming more loving and surrendering the mind (ego).

Like Chris mentioned -- the caterpillar has to become the butterfly.

Namaste ~ Dan

[greybeard]

Manipulating the person via ego is simple.

Get something to seem important or that the person will be seen as special by buying into this privileged information.

Anyone who has studied Neuro Linguistic Programing will know how to get the attention of others and how to change their mind, influence them etc.

A story
I studied this and Ericsonian Hypnotherapy at St Annes Hospital London. (Even telling you where I studied has impact)
getting to it.
The course cost thousands but well spent,
Stephen Brooks who trained me was exceptionally good.

At that time I was very stressed m business was going down the plug hole, I couldn't sleep at night the voice in my head was remorselessly telling me all kinds of negative stories.

I caught Stephen in the corridor and asked him if he had a moment, he said yes.
I said "I cant get to sleep for the voice in my head", He said "Stop talking to your self" and walked off.
I was wild I had been ignored and after all I had paid a lot of money I had expectation that he would fix me or free.

Later when I had calmed down I approached him again.
He saw me coming and said "Do you really want to know?" thats taking control of the situation and impressing on me that he knew.

"Listen" he said, that is a command. I did attentively.

Answer is Its as though you have two voices in the head., one you have control over, One will start or try to start a conversation dont answer it.
If something is really important have an internal dialogue by all mean but most internal talk is repetitive and of no real importance. If you do answer the other voice it will pull you this way and that, off at tangents, there will be no peace of mind.

When Eckhart Tolle was contemplating suicide He said "I can no longer live with myself", Instantly came the though are there two of me, the self and the one I cant live with. The thought brought about virtually instant transformation after a few moments of extreme fear as the ego died.. When he awoke in the morning his world was totally different, peace prevailed mind was silent.

Going back to what Stephen said and the way he delivered the information I needed.
He first ccreated emotion in me and increased desire to know by just giving me a snipped of information that did not make complete sense and walking off.

Next time we met I was really ready to listen and he also commanded me to.

He knew exactly what he was doing and manipulated me for in this case my own good.

I took his advice and did not sleep for two nights, I was determined not to speak to myself.
It worked to a certain degree.
Meditation and stopping myself from commenting on some things took me the rest of the way to a silent mind.

Anyway it is easy to grab peoples attention when you have been trained how to,


Chris
Namaste

Ps if you find this helpful please visit the charity site below.
Any donations greatly appreciated.
I dont like asking but you dont get unless you do is very true

[DeDukshyn]

Posted by Ernie Nemeth (here)
"The smarter you are, if smart is measured in IQ, the longer this process will take. IQ is based on thinking. IQ is based on a time/space reality." by allhealing.
No wonder it is taking me so long to reach enlightenment...

I've concluded to myself that intelligence can NOT be learned. You are born with all the intelligence you need. This cannot be expressed though until you know "things" or "knowledge"(in the traditional sense). Then, as you gain more and more "Knowledge" and "language" you can start to express your intelligence. IQ is based on tests of REASON not knowledge. That's why they tend to work for everyone regardless of their knowlegde or language skills. Keep in mind here that "Knowledge" and "language" are actually restrictors of intelligence. That which is ineffible due to a lack of either of these becomes the things we cannot speak of; but does not imbede intelligence. This is distinction really helps when just learning not to judge your brothers - we truly are all equal.

[9eagle9]

Posted by Ernie Nemeth (here)
"The smarter you are, if smart is measured in IQ, the longer this process will take. IQ is based on thinking. IQ is based on a time/space reality." by allhealing.
No wonder it is taking me so long to reach enlightenment...

Very intelligent people LIKE to think, though. It's a choice. We choose to excersize our clever little minds. Thinking is bad/Thinking is good is a ego assignment on its own. So is intelligence is bad, intelligence is good. If thoughts are meaningless why would they be a hinderance? ...through choice.

At any given time we can choose Know or we can choose Think.

[DeDukshyn]

Posted by greybeard (here)
God is One without a second.
Its great to be having a conversation here.

So if we look at non duality we have a sliding scale of Extremely good, good quite good, till good disapears off the scale and we are left with absence of good.
In the eyes of God and dont take this too literally. absence has no reality it is non existant. Dark is the absence of light. You cant shine dark but you can shine light.
Darkness has no substance no form it is an absence it does not exist in the light of love.

God only knows Love
The rest is mind constructs.

In non duality there is no need for opposites. just degrees of Love degrees of what is.
One without a second no need for opposites.

In duality we need bad to define good.

That is a major difference.
The difference is in the thinking, in the Mind.
Change the mind change the way of being the way of acting.

Eventually NOW One is left with Awareness, thinking = analyzing and is unnecessary in that all knowing state, which is called enlightenment.

Namaste

Yes that is definately a far superior way of interpreting the world. On scales of goodness, on scales of love, scales of truth - with no negatives, just levels of these qualities. I think that would be an appropriate "next" step for anyone wanting to move from their present dualistic state; just begin perceiving in these terms instead as a tool to help facilitate that process. I can see this being a very practical application for anyone seeking a more unified perspective.

[greybeard]

Posted by DeDukshyn (here)
Yes that is definately a far superior way of interpreting the world. On scales of goodness, on scales of love, scales of truth - with no negatives, just levels of these qualities. I think that would be an appropriate "next" step for anyone wanting to move from their present dualistic state; just begin perceiving in these terms instead as a tool to help facilitate that process. I can see this being a very practical application for anyone seeking a more unified perspective.

We have to meet people where they stand.
Some years ago if I read what has been written on this thread, I would have run a mile.
It took years of crosschecking, building faith and also there were "spiritual" experiences which confirmed the Truth of sages.
Sometimes I expect to much of people, it took me long enough by trial error to have this understanding and cant say that I am right even yet.
Thanks for posting
Chris
Namaste

[Ernie Nemeth]

Although my post was intended as a joke, I understand that this is exactly my problem.
I spend my days at my desk writing, reading and researching. I spend every waking moment thinking about my ego's iron-grip on my life. It creates, it alters reality, it gets what it wants. But these are my birthright, not the ego's! I want to create. I want to alter reality. I want to get what I want. But I am diametrically opposed to my ego and I feel powerless to wrest control from my nemesis. This has become the central part of my life. It is all I ever think about. For twelve years now I have been stuck in this Dark Night of the Soul. My life has been torn apart. I have lost my house, my priviledge to drive a car, my business, my designation as an electrician, my friends, my family, my woman. I have lost my possessions - I have two boxes left of stuff, the rest is long gone. I have been completely side-lined by this society.
On the up-side, my thoughts are crystal clear, my access to truth is virtually unimpeded, and my guides are in constant contact.
I am in touch but out of touch at the same time.
I know it is my own mistaken beliefs that have led me here. I know I cannot in truth blame anyone but myself for my predicament. I know God loves me and I Him.
Sometimes I dream of how my life would be if I would just drop my defenses and surrender to the truth. It would be awesome, if my dream is true. But then I think, what would it cost me in terms of what else I would have to give up first. And, I do not have much left to give before I end up out on the street. That scares me a lot.
So now I hold onto my dwindling resources with both hands tightly. I panic when rent is due or there is no more food in the fridge or I drop below $100 in cash - which happens way too frequently. I hustle for little electrical jobs and hurry to finish them, get paid and get out before the inspection departmnent catches me working. And this in the trade where I am the expert with over thirty years experience!
Oh boy, I've gone on and on. Sorry. But thanks for letting me vent. I feel better already.
In this life as a body I have so far failed the test. But in this life as a soul, I am at the top of my class.
I will not be coming back. This world is too harsh for my kind. I have done my work.
My plan now is to release my ego on my deathbed so that I will have completed my task just as I slip out of these earthly coils.

[9eagle9]

I was in somewhat of the same position as you. And I still backslide periodically into the worry which creates circumstances I don't particularly want. I found ACIM before it found me, but before either found the other..I was already giving things up to spirit. So I didn't make a complete hell for myself entirely just pockets of hell scattered here and there I stopped thinking and started just bundling everything up and shoving it at Source. Just through my hands up in the air after wrestling with something for a year and say, Fine God. You take it make Shinola from **** (God doesn't seem to mind my potty mouth.) That's when things would break for the better. I knew that. I just didn't utilize God or My Higher self enough. I just knee jerkedly thought I could figure everything out on my own. My mind, my worry, my projections never did solve anything for me it just drug me deeper into the net.

But the thing is you don't have to break the ego BEFORE things can start to turn around. Give it to your higher self. The ego can't block that which you give up to the higher self. Or source or holy spirit. And it works. But sometimes we are so befuddled we don't even know what we are asking for. I had to read Tolle and Marianne Williamson in order to be taught to know which questions to ask I was that far down in the hole. Or what to give up for them to fix (make sacred).. To know what i needed to give up in order to effect even a shift in perception.

I had this attachment that was like a living thing on me and no matter what I did and I did quite a lot from plain old energy work to exorcism to shamanic healing it wouldn't leave. Finally God said, Would you just accept it. Instead of resisting it always and fighting it?

So I did. The next day it was gone. Two years of energy invested in getting that attachment off me. This is what you do when you hold onto your resources tightly. You create resource resistant energy and resources begin to resist you. You have an attitude that you are somehow sneaky or wrong to support yourself, to not be caught by the inspection dept. The inspection department is not of God. God really doesn't care what the inspection department thinks and neither should you. You are entitled to an abundant life , you just need to clear some stuff out to help you see that. If you were sitting her with me I'd be prowling in the attitudes of your parents and the conditions of your youth to find out where this notion that you have to sneak to earn came from. This sounds intensely personal but its not. Lots of people including myself have once held that hidden sneaky belief that we didn't' deserve...for any reason. You maybe carrying some wounds but I don't think anyone here is going to gasp in shock. More likely they'll flap their hand and say "Yep that was me."

But you don't have to wait for a sudden breakdown in ego.

I work with a minister that has been teaching and working with ACIM for about jeez at least 20 years. I do wound work with people. She disagreed with me that there were no wounds only thoughts. And that's true at a certain level. If you have not reached that level you can't comprehend or even work with that. So we decided that we would work together, she would show how Spirit pummels the ego from 'above' and how 'we' could hammer it from below by doing core belief work, the wounds the ego uses against us. You shed light on why you have a wound and it disappears. This is what is happening to you, your ego is using your wounds against you. Get rid of the wounds and you don't have any ammo for the ego to hurl.

You will benefit a lot from both. To me it sounds like you have some patterns in your life, and that could be based in your core belief system. Beliefs we hold about ourselves that we don't even know we are holing. It causes events like you are experiencing. But its faster if you do it the above and below way.

[9eagle9]

http://www.davidickebooks.co.uk/downloads/How_I_06.pdf

@ Ernie. This is an interesting little read from a woman who not only broke her earthly contracts, debt, cc bills, taxes, but based it using the precepts used in ACIM. All of our life is about breaking contracts that don't serve us. Emotional, mental and physical agreements.

[Ernie Nemeth]

Hi 9eagle9,
Thanks for the input. Your love has touched me. Still I feel it.
ACIM is nothing new to me. I have worked with that book for over ten years. I used to carry it with me wherever I went. I read it front to back at least five, six times, if not more. I made notes, did the course twice, the second time even sincerely dedicated. I have gone to workshops on ACIM. Even volunteered at weekend seminars. I even took a one year Practitioner's course. Not only that but I have written two books, both heavily influenced by ACIM. I am currently working on the third book of the set, "World Peace Manifesto".
I am a yoga teacher. I've read all the books I could get my hands on in this category including Marrianne Williamson and Eckert Tolle. I work with friends, family and even strangers, never forgetting the gifts they bring to me even if they have no clue about such things. I am doing the work.
I've done past regressive work. Spent a year gathering together everything anyone knew about me or my parents and family. From that I created our family tree and wrote my autobiography with special emphasis on events that changed my thinking or otherwise changed the trajectory of my life. Its all on paper. I know why I am who I think I am. Believe it or not I have been the catalyst for many others on the road to enlightenment. They have leaped-frogged way ahead of me but forgot to reach back down and take me with them...
I blame no one, though, except myself. Been through the blame game until there was no one left to blame but myself.
I've thrown my ACIM book in the trash six months ago. Tears come to my eyes as I say that. Never have I read a book so obviously inspired, so concise, so real. I miss it terribly. But the book had become my idol. It had to go.
I am very close now, but I have been saying that for years. My guides keep insisting there is so much more I can do if only I would surrender to love. Then they show me my possible future and I recoil at the blasphemy of it. I cannot even utter the magnificence, the magnitude of the one I could become. I will not accept it. It cannot be true. But if it is not true, if my guides are just the precursors of insanity, then everything I worked for, everything I have learned, is false. Then I am truly lost and hopelessly befuddled.
That is my dilemna. I am afraid of my power. I am not sure any more if I am not insane already.
Thanks again for your input.

[greybeard]

Dear Ernie
My heart goes out to you hang on in there.
Much love Chris