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Don't blame Ego.
RichardH
Veteran
The realization of Non Duality, or basic awakeness does not mean being Egoless. Atta is not the psychological ego.
Certainly self-centered Egotism loses its fuel, but the basic ego-structure of the bodymind/world interface remains intact. This structure is a natural part of the bodymind's process and not some kind of aberration. With practice it becomes more integrated and autonomous. I am still me...not you, and we may have different sensibilities and needs. The villainizing of ego can create conflict that is hopeless, as people try to negate the tryer. A healthy ego-structure is part of a mature spiritual practice, it is no trouble. Beware of someone who is "Egoless" because he probably has a "Gurus Ego" that is so cosmically inflated he feels " a loving oneness" with everything conflated with his own agenda. Perhaps a Buddha is truly without this social interface, but why would he need to be?
Certainly self-centered Egotism loses its fuel, but the basic ego-structure of the bodymind/world interface remains intact. This structure is a natural part of the bodymind's process and not some kind of aberration. With practice it becomes more integrated and autonomous. I am still me...not you, and we may have different sensibilities and needs. The villainizing of ego can create conflict that is hopeless, as people try to negate the tryer. A healthy ego-structure is part of a mature spiritual practice, it is no trouble. Beware of someone who is "Egoless" because he probably has a "Gurus Ego" that is so cosmically inflated he feels " a loving oneness" with everything conflated with his own agenda. Perhaps a Buddha is truly without this social interface, but why would he need to be?
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Comments
there are actually teachings on this.
If we deny the functionality of conventional reality we end up with an extreme view that ends up making it difficult for us to practice and function in society.
I remember someone linked a good essay on this idea in a thread sometime in Dec. I'll look for it.
I think it might be this one... previously Published in Tricycle online magazine as "Hang onto your Ego"....
http://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/Writings/CrossIndexed/Uncollected/Uncollected.html
it is just see the 'reality' and see how absurd 'trying to cling to nothing'
but the habitual tendency is to cling to nothing thinking nothing is something
it is important to be practice mindfulness with the realization of Non Duality experience to become egoless
Aw shucks....it weren't nuthin'.....You should see me skippin' on water......!
(Is that my Ego, talking....?:D)
Even a first year psychology student could tell them that even if it were possible to get rid of the ego doing so would be catastrophic psychologically. I imagine it would be some kind of psychotic break.
Simplistically put, I think part of the initial work we do on ourselves when we're following a spiritual path is psychological; achieving a healthy, integrated, and balanced ego.
And we continue on from there.
Or we would if the process was always sequential. But you know what I mean....
Atta = ego-centric consciousness = selfishness = pride, greed, hatred, etc... (Often atta is translated as ego, and sometimes as 'soul'). Having said that, I cannot imagine how I as a householder, engaged as I am in commercial and other activities, can free myself of ego altogether.
Just a question, whilst we are on this subject:
Anatta doctrine states that there is no permanent unchanging self to be found in the five aggregates.
So, is it wrong to "think" that there is a impermanent changing self to be found in the five aggregates, which themselves are all impermanent and continuously changing? Like saying atta = "changing empirical self."