The ego what is it? How to transcend?

greybeard · 02-08-2010, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greybeard

ps
When I speak of God I an not speaking of some-thing limited by definition, holy books, or human mind.
The God of my understanding is, the totality all of it and beyond it. A single first cause and on going Creator beyond our imagination our concepts,language. whatever!!!
Without form yet within every form. Transcendent, immanent, both and neither.

With love
Namaste
Chris

Dear trainedobserver
I posted this some time back.
The God of my understanding is not judgmental --how can pure Love be judgmental.
The whole purpose of the thread is to start dialogue about the ego which is the cause of virtually all human suffering since time began.

My understanding is that God is not waiting up in heaven to judge us, we by our very actions "judge" ourselves every moment,
Every action either raises or lowers our spiritual vibration. God is like a massive electromagnetic field prevailing throughout the whole cosmos. The Divine Ocean of which we are individual waves.
So on death our soul being also electromagnetic automatically goes to the the level/realm concordant with our spiritual vibration. Judgment is not necessary.
Jesus said "In my Fathers house are many mansions"

I can only refer you to Dr Hawkins work for fullest explanation.

He went through a period of the strongest non bielief. He just like you couldn't believe in a god who let people suffer. Even though at one time his belief was very strong he lost it completely and it was after many years of devoting his life to help those afflicted with every malady know to man,( in his role as a GP and Psychiatrist,) that he hit rock bottom and called out for help from the God he had denied existed. That was on the verge of death from an incurable disease. The bottom line is that he experienced what is called God shock and when he awoke from that enlightenment had occurred.

Hope you have a look at his book you have nothing to loose.

I can understand pain of prayers seeming not to be heard for ones we love, particularly ones who are kindness it self in this life.
I cant give a definitive or reassuring answer. I too have lost friends or been unable to help those afflicted that are dear to me and the only comfort was that I believe in a loving God and I believe life is eternal though the body obviously is not.

with love
Chris

micjer · 02-09-2010, 12:24 AM

Chris this resonates with the Dannion Brinkley story. Struck by lightning and dead for over 20 minutes, he experienced much of what you speak of.

greybeard · 02-09-2010, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by micjer

Chris this resonates with the Dannion Brinkley story. Struck by lightning and dead for over 20 minutes, he experienced much of what you speak of.

Thanks for you input micjer which is much appreciated.
The mystical is a challenge to the intellect because it is not measurable,
The intellect is the wrong instrument much like trying to measure water or air with a ruler.
Yet there is much anecdotal evidence of the nonlinear non-dualistic -Oneness -the province of the mystic.
Those who have experienced coming back from clinically proven death have a fairly uniform story.

love your DH quote below,

At some point, the illusion breaks down and the opening for the start of the spiritual quest commences. The quest turns from without to within and the search for answers begins."

Dr.David Hawkins

greybeard · 02-09-2010, 12:41 AM

Regarding karma
It may well be so that there is a collective consciousness and when we are born we pick up our share of karma which is not personal though the effects are personal.
The very nature of the mind can cause us to identify sometimes even unconsciously with others illness and what we hold in mind can materialize. The thought that it must be terrible to suffer from cancer can trigger it within the body. The thought that I dont deserve to be healed can sabotage a healing.

We are bombarded on tv with this horrendous illness that terrible event, mass suffering of this group that culture. The news cast is the most depressing to watch.

Eckhart Tolle says "Made for pain bodies by pain bodies"
Negativity lowers the immune system and makes us more prone to illness and dis-ease.

So meditation and keeping good thoughts in mind is very practical in countering dis-ease.
The ability to forgive is very uplifting, carnying past hurt is bad for the health. Carrying the world apon ones shoulder is not a good idea.
According to "The Course in Miracles" anger is never justifyable.
Like to like. Anger attracts an equal reaction from that which you are angry at, be it life in general or a person.
Anger creates toxin in the body and can cause all kinds of pain.

Anway bed time.
Peace and pleasant dreams to all.
Chris

trainedobserver · 02-09-2010, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greybeard

My understanding is that God is ...

How does one arrive at an understanding of of such a thing? I pondered this for many years while still professing my Christian faith. How does one justify a belief in one particular deity over another? Humanity has over 3500 gods and goddesses. What is the process by which a reliable determination of which one is real? They all cannot be 'real' because of their contradictory nature. godchecker.com appears to be down right now but it is an excellent source of information about humanities obsession with supernatural beings.

Quote:

So on death our soul being also electromagnetic automatically goes to the the level/realm concordant with our spiritual vibration.

Sounds like a unprovable hypothesis. Contrary to folk belief there is no scientific evidence for the existence of a soul, spirit, or any ethereal component in a human being. The whole 21 gram thing is nonsense. Logic would dictate that if a soul or spirit existed there would no need for the brain. In all myth and legend the soul contains the personality, memory, and so forth of a human being. These things have been proven to be the domain of the brain. When the brain is physically altered the personality and memory of an individual is altered. I cannot personally justify such a belief.

greybeard · 02-09-2010, 04:27 PM

Dear trainedobserver
I can understand that you want verifiable proof before you accept anything as being true.
I can only refer you to the teaching of Dr Hawkins.

He claims that kinesology testing confirms that his teachings and subjective experience is true. I believe him.

He has spent twenty years researching spiritual truth and many other things with hundreds of volunteers using the technique. The answers were scientifically tested and found to be correct. As a bench mark facts of which the answers given by the test were not know to the test subjects were proven to be correct. Kinesology is accepted as a reliable muscle test the pioneer work done br Dr Diamond.
Hawkins found that the answers were not coming from subconscious but from the field of consciousness in which everything with out exception has been recorded since time began, similar to the statement that "Not one hair on your head is left uncounted" Even when the volunteer was unaware of the question ie put in a sealed envelope on their solar plexus, the answer was correct.

The answers come as true or not true to an affirmative statement. The muscle goes weak as a not yes.

Dowsing is not of the same quality as it can be influenced by the mind.

With love
Chris

greybeard · 02-09-2010, 04:48 PM

Challenges can be what we make of them and they can certainly be the making of us.
The life of Helen Keller is an example to all of us.
The American President, whos name escapes me for the moment, in office during the lat war had polio and dident have the use of his legs yet led the country to victory.
Winston Churchill was dyslexic yet he inspired Uk in its darkest hour.

Some will lose faith in the face of great heart break others will take comfort from it.

im just musing as thoughts come to mind.

The ego thrives on lack.

Chris

trainedobserver · 02-09-2010, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greybeard

Some will lose faith in the face of great heart break others will take comfort from it.

I don't know of anyone who would take comfort seeing their wife turned into a lump of agonized suffering flesh by a devastating chronic disease, literally caught in an absolute living hell from which the only release will be death, abandoned (not actually since he was never there in the first place) by her god, experiencing a total and complete failure of her and her husband's cherished belief system. Were someone to somehow find that 'comforting' I would question their humanity as well as their sanity.

I appreciate the discussion but I have to quit. I can't go on with this anymore.

greybeard · 02-09-2010, 05:21 PM

I am very sorry to hear of your wife's condition and I know there is nothing I can say to ease the pain. Obviously no one can take comfort from such a situation.
To be clear I meant some take comfort from whatever faith they have.

My heart goes out to you as im sure everyone who reads this will feel for you.

I will miss our conversations but I realize why in part they are painful for you.

Best wishes
Chris

trainedobserver · 02-09-2010, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greybeard

I am very sorry to hear of your wife's condition ...

I'm sorry I didn't make this clear, she is my ex-wife. That is all I care to say about the situation. I appreciate the kind words and thoughts.

mudra · 02-09-2010, 05:38 PM

Trainedobserver,

I am sorry to hear the great suffering your wife and yourself are going through.
Beyond our personal beliefs we are all humans and brothers and sisters on this earth.
We can share our joys and can share our pains.
And we can share our love for each other .
Stay strong during these challenging times .
You and your wife are in my heart.
I hug you.

Love for You
mudra

SteveX · 02-09-2010, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trainedobserver

Sounds like a unprovable hypothesis. Contrary to folk belief there is no scientific evidence for the existence of a soul, spirit, or any ethereal component in a human being. The whole 21 gram thing is nonsense. Logic would dictate that if a soul or spirit existed there would no need for the brain. In all myth and legend the soul contains the personality, memory, and so forth of a human being. These things have been proven to be the domain of the brain. When the brain is physically altered the personality and memory of an individual is altered. I cannot personally justify such a belief.

Just a brief interjection. Having had a near death experience where I briefly died after a car accident. Obviously I have a different view. I've written about the incident here www.barronbourne.blog.com (bottom of page). I can see your point of view and in all honesty and using logic, it makes sense BUT my experience shows otherwise. Neither of us can prove our point but having had such an experience I know there is adventure beyond the mortal coil. That the soul is an entity shackled to this world by our living bodies.... for better or worse.

Now.... I'm not religious and being 12 years old at the time I had no knowledge of life after death. The experience I had is in keeping with other western near death experiences. I'm also not much of a gambling man but by betting on life after death I have nothing to loose. The light is indeed groovy.

Gnosis5 · 02-09-2010, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trainedobserver

[snipped]
Sounds like a unprovable hypothesis. Contrary to folk belief there is no scientific evidence for the existence of a soul, spirit, or any ethereal component in a human being. The whole 21 gram thing is nonsense. Logic would dictate that if a soul or spirit existed there would no need for the brain. In all myth and legend the soul contains the personality, memory, and so forth of a human being. These things have been proven to be the domain of the brain. When the brain is physically altered the personality and memory of an individual is altered. I cannot personally justify such a belief.

Would you like to run that by the right side of your processor?

peace,
Gnosis

14 Chakras · 02-09-2010, 11:10 PM

BEyond the ego and false God outside of us, is the reality of our own true Nature ~ Divinity within ~ Oneness.

We are co-creators, we are always creating. We can't stop creating. Whatever we send out we get back. Sometimes quickly, sometimes in future lifetimes.

Life is hard here because we can't see through the veil easily so we create from our illusion of separation, from our ego, and this inevitably creates suffering.

When we realize the divinity lays within us, beyond our thoughts, and connect to it for all of our needs, including our highest inspirations, protection and health, then we will have the abundant life made manifest.

This is no easy task, the veil is very thick on this planet. However, it is time to do so, to connect to the still small voice that lives in our heart and make it our own voice. Not my will but thine be done is truly the voice of sanity.

Thinking we need to do it all by our separate self is the recipe that creates the dark age. God's will is not out side of me, it's my own higher Will. It's my enlightened Will that knows what will ultimately be of most benefit for me and all of those in this world.

The trick is understanding God is not some being outside of us that is the cause of our ups and downs, rather it is our own higher enlightened Self that we can connect to when we surrender to the stillness within Now.

Suffering has no easy explanation, but the reality is that this 3rd dimensional experience is but a drop in the bucket of eternity of our true infinite experience. This suffering will eventually be but a distant memory. We will know what it was like to feel so separate from who we really are, and to experience suffering, we will bring this experience back into the grandeur of who we really are, beyond suffering.

As Linda Baker's signature says something like: How would we know what was cool if we didn't know what sucked?

When all is said and done, the trials and tribulations of the world will give us the depth required to move up in the schoolroom of infinity and be of great help to other evolutions.

As it is prophesied: The last shall be first and the first shall be last. The apparently "lowly" humans who have Pure Hearts shall be raised up on high and the last shall be first. Whereas the apparently very advanced ET types who treat human like cattle will reap as they sew and the first shall be last.

One of the things humanity needs to learn is spiritual protection. Without it, we inevitably will be taking in energies that are not ours and they will make us sick both physically and spiritually. So much to learn, fortunately for us, the Golden Age is beginning officially Now!

My advice, seek beyond thought, beyond ego, connect to the stillness within, the presence within, and go with the Flow the River of Life that is always MORE than we "think".

greybeard · 02-09-2010, 11:28 PM

Dear Gnosis5
thank you for your continuing support of this thread.
May peace and the right brain prevail.

Incidentally its a medical fact that the pathways in the brain are strengthened by use and the next thought finds it easier to move along the most used path.

In simplicity the more we think positively the more we perceive events as positive.
Unfortunately the opposite also holds true.

The right brain tends to process essence -- the total picture.
The left brain is into detail and can misunderstand context and its the context that gives true meaning.

The ego cant see the wood for the tree.

The brain is like a filing cabinet and every event is analyzed as to which file it belongs in.
This process is instant and happens before the mind even registers the event.
Important information can be filtered out before the event is registered so anything which dosent fit in with current stand point / belief is not recognised as relevent.
Anything that confirms point of view is fast tracked to conscious awareness.
so there you have it.

That comes from the training received at st Annes Hospital London not from spiritual books.

Chris

greybeard · 02-10-2010, 12:44 AM

Good to see you back here on this thread 14 chakras
Your wisdom is invaluable.

Recent events have caused me to think very deeply and that takes me back to AA the staring point of spiritual quest.
I find it easy to share personal stuff because thats what you do in AA meetings.

I befriended many in AA and the help and advice received was invaluable.
Virtually everything I know is second hand but I took what resonated with me in AA, tried for size and if it worked kept it and shared it.

The main cause of alcoholics leaving AA drinking again and dying is resentment.
So the teaching in AA is that there is no such thing as a justifiable resentment.
There are people in AA from all walks of life most are kind and gentle souls who could not cope with life and got their courage / escape from the bottle pre AA.

it broke my heart to see people i loved going back on the bottle and dying.

One way or another the ego convinced them that they had it sused out after some time in AA how to stay sober with out the unconditional love expressed in the fellowship.

They would start to pick holes in the teachings that had saved millions of lives from this incurable illness. They would get resentful for one reason or another and leave.
Yes they had it figured out intellectually but had not realized that the Higher Power expressed in that unconditional love was what was keeping them sober.
Within weeks I and fellow members would be at their funeral.

"When two or more are gathered in My Name" is the source of the Power.

Alcoholism is not caused by excessive drinking, excessive drinking is a symptom of the disease. It is in part genetic.

I know exactly what I am in that respect. I am a recovering alcoholic one day at a time.
I know I dident get sober through will power, in this regard will power is a liability.

I cant afford to be intellectual and loose the relationship that I have with God or I would face a painful miserable death in short order.
The knowledge that I am powerless over alcohol keeps me relatively humble compared to the old egoic self

I rarely go to AA now as I know that God is within me.
Knowing on this level cant be intellectual.
its not theory or talking about---- it is it.

I cannot afford to carry the past with its perceived unfairness ( I dident ask to be a suicidal alki) or I loose gratitude for the moment and peace of mind.

With love
Chris

greybeard · 02-10-2010, 12:46 AM

hi Lisa
thank you for your input.
Chris

14 Chakras · 02-10-2010, 03:14 AM

This is a great thread and I'm happy to see it continue. Personally, I most definitely nominate it as a sticky.

Chris you share some great experiences.

For me a critical understanding is that there is always More, meaning whatever works for us today, can be surpassed by a higher Truth tomorrow (or when I'm ready).

People most often have major a break through under one teaching, and then become mistakingly loyal to that teaching believing it is the only one for them, when really, the teaching that broke them through was not a full truth, as there is always more, and it keeps us going in circles rather than climbing higher on the path.

For example, there are some that have breakthrough from fundamental Christianity with some alien channeled stuff that is not the highest, but includes more truth than their former community. This may be a step in the right direction, but may not be the most truthful teaching. Just because a teaching helped me get out of the level that I was at, doesn't mean I have to be loyal to it forever. If I am loyal to it forever, I will never surpass it. Yet no outer teaching can take us into the inner kingdom of Being that is inside of us here in the eternal Now, only a full shift in consciousness beyond beliefs can do so.

The ego is always seeking to define itself based and security in not changing, security in beliefs.

Whereas the Divine within us simply BE's MORE every NOW. Continuous transcendence, no attachments, always a higher Truth. Who I was yesterday is dead. I have been reborn into who I AM today, and tomorrow, I will BE who I will BE.

No belief system to defend, just a state of dying to every Now, and Being reborn every Now.

There's always More.

For me, the real key critical trick is seeing that when I'm talking about God in me, I'm not talking about God who is separate from me, or separate from anyone here. I'm talking about my own higher Self, who I really AM.

BEyond ego is ME. I AM that I AM, that's who I really AM. Each of us is a unique individualization of the infinite, and together we are MORE, and even it appears not to be the case, the reality is we are all already One.

I would like to address why I believe people find it very difficult not to transcend their pain bodies (see Eckhart Tolle for explanation of pain bodies), addictions and momentum's of anger and depression, but this posts is quite long so I will save it. The reality is however, that there is much more going on in our world than our 5 senses show us, and spiritual protection will in the not so distant future be something that becomes as common for humanity as washing our hands to protect us from germs.

Until then, keep up the great BEING every ONE!

greybeard · 02-10-2010, 03:53 AM

Thanks again 14chakras.

There has been a series of ah ha! moments with a continuum of teachers.
Each time the understanding has changed, perception is from a different viewpoint.
Like climbing a mountain, difference is when one thinks one is at the summit another appears out of the mist one is temporally in.
God is infinity.
Creation and evolution are one -- an on going process --
so of course you are right 14 there is more and its beyond our wildest dreams.
The potential is infinity and it dosent get much MORE than that.
To be eternal would be hell if it wasn't---- "ever new" .

I know I talk a lot about the teaching of Dr Hawkins and thats because he has stretched my thinking to the point that I know everything has too be given up.
One must be willing to die to God in order to be born again. (not born again Christian concept) no concept or belief system is required and that seems a paradox.
Hawkins died to God so he is an example that there is true life after the death of the ego.
I posted a copy of his death some time back. Only God walks through the door of enlightenment at that level, then there are other levels, another paradox. One is complete at every level but there is MORE.

I read some where that the Cosmos pulses in and out of existence every mini second, Dont know if thats true. We know nothing.

Hawkins says--- here we go again

that he is not located in his body "people talk to it because thats the way it is here" thats an indication of where he is at.

I respect the teacher which is our very own self, devotion is due only to God
"Gloria in Excelsis! Deo!"

My belief is that our higher self is "The Holy Spirit"

It was never my intention that this would be my thread, and it isn't, many fine contributions, more are needed.
What you think is trivial may be important to some one else.

My dearest friend Uffe said "Only an ego would start an ego thread" and of-course as usual he is right.
Mine is still work in progress.

I would happily take a back seat if others would take over and keep this thread alive.

The subject "Transcending the ego" is vital at this time.

Thanks again 14 chakras.

PS whats a sticky?

greybeard · 02-13-2010, 11:34 AM

As alluded to on the thread.
Transcending the ego or at least taming it is of crucial importance if we wish to move on from the current state of this world.

The level of spiritual awareness/intention is like an auto pilot on a ship.
You can set it to a certain direction say North turn the steering wheel and head East but the moment you let go the wheel the auto pilot will take you North again.
Similarly if you do some work on training the ego it will serve you for a while then the moment you let go of the training you will find that the selfish aspects that we all have will arise automatically and friction will occur in all relationships.
The ideal relationship is one where there is alignment of will.

In this world the ego is in control (the original meaning of the word ego is sin)
Im not religious and not fond of the idea of being judged for our sins and its not true.
(Explanation some pages back on what happens when we die.)
Jesus said "God forgive them for they know not what they do" in other words spiritually unconscious, asleep, the ego in control.

We have tried to force the world into peace for countless years, that hasn't worked and cant because its an egoic action.
If you look at the history of Nelson Mandella, Ghandi and others of the same spiritual vibration it speaks loud and clear for alignment, not force. look at how much these two achieved against all odds.
So if we want a peaceful world the we need to do what we can to personally raise our spiritual vibration. Be the change that we want to see. Others change through your example by what we do not what we say.

Meditation and all spiritual practices are good and worthwhile but when you come out of meditation and that beautiful peace then what? Does the peace remain?
If you get frustrated and angry because others dont see it your way, (of course your right arent you?) the ego is back full force.

Unless the workings of the ego are understood and surrendered to God, then spiritual progress will be slow. Eckhart Tolle said the same about understanding "The Pain Body". another name for aspects of the ego.
The mind does not have the power to transcend the ego you need Divine intervention,
if you ask for help you will get it.
The ego cant survive if the focus is kept in the Now, the Eternal moment.

Chris

Frank Samuel · 02-13-2010, 12:01 PM

As a young man finding my way and trying to understand the world around me I place to much value on self, becoming judgmental. Now as a Father of 5 children the self no longer becomes so important, the older I get the more I realized how alike we all are. The journey might takes us in different direction, our awakening process might be slower for some while for others they are awake since the moment of their birth. Patience, love, compassion and most of all humility and gratitude. The definition of Freud of Ego never took into account the spiritual self.Focus on the journey of finding your way back home and forget about other people's interpretation of self, for the self is connected to all things.It is only our perception of the illusion which divides us as individuals , thinking that we are alone, WE are never alone, WE will never be alone. So like the song says;" Don't worry be happy ".

greybeard · 02-13-2010, 01:25 PM

Thanks Frank.
Thats it be happy, as you said.

In UK the the feeling of many is that material things bring happiness.
Enough is never enough though.
Success is measured in the size of the car, the house, the type of credit card.
So important to be a "Big" man!!!

So how come on one of the many surveys the people of Bangladesh ( one of the materially poorest) came top of the happy league while USA and UK materially wealthy were much further down the scale?
Could it be that being grateful for what one has is a key factor?

The ego is never happy for long, it cant stay in the Now its by nature restless, acquisitive and inquisitive.
It wants to have a measure of success, a bench mark so it can judge how successful it is. It has to know as its so insecure.
Even if it is successful there is now a great fear of loss so there is a drive for more and more.
Chris
Ps if you are a new reader to the thread can I suggest that you read some of the other pages and please contribute.

Gnosis5 · 02-14-2010, 03:22 AM

RE ego expressions, the way I decided to conduct myself is working: Instead of adding force to an idea that I consider in opposition to mine I am starting to look for the polarity, to view it as a possible polarity and seeking to merge it rather than further holding the poles apart by adding more force.

I know that makes me look like (and feel like) a naive wimp at times.

greybeard · 02-14-2010, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gnosis5

RE ego expressions, the way I decided to conduct myself is working: Instead of adding force to an idea that I consider in opposition to mine I am starting to look for the polarity, to view it as a possible polarity and seeking to merge it rather than further holding the poles apart by adding more force.

I know that makes me look like (and feel like) a naive wimp at times.

Thats a great way to look a it.
In non-duality there are alternatives not opposites.
It takes great strength to be different, to develop humility.
Your no wimp Gnosis5
People are responsible for their thoughts, not you.

There is no strength in running programed which is the case with most people and because they are spiritual asleep they are not aligned to the power of Now and are not aware of this.
The power of any 12 step program lies in humility and surrender to a Higher Power.

Force-- will power creates an equal force in opposition so no progress is made.
Its called the bicep tri-cep principal. The arm-- the aim is locked.

Regards Chris

Gnosis5 · 02-14-2010, 11:36 PM

Yeah, and it seems there are different words for the same thing and that gap has to be closed too. I took me a bit of effort to learn the "out-there" terminologies when I left the comfort of my Church. The more I do that the more I can see that we are not so different afterall, those of us who are on the self-improvement path(s).

I'm not bragging in a bad way here, but today I helped a unit of consciousness merge a polarity (or duality -- I guess they mean the same). One end of the charged pole said "to merge" and the other end said "to separate", and because this was spoken in the timelessness of a near void it echoed out for eons, down the halls of time to my little spot on this ball of dirt.

The consciousness and I both processed the energies that were forcing us to choose either one side or the other. Imagine if someone can only either have the goal of separation or the goal of merging and hardly any point in between. What wars are made of, eh!

02-09-2010, 12:24 AM	#2
micjer Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ont. CANADA Posts: 1,043	Re: The ego what is it? How to transcend? Chris this resonates with the Dannion Brinkley story. Struck by lightning and dead for over 20 minutes, he experienced much of what you speak of.

02-09-2010, 12:41 AM	#4
greybeard Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Inverness Scotland Posts: 924	Re: The ego what is it? How to transcend? Regarding karma It may well be so that there is a collective consciousness and when we are born we pick up our share of karma which is not personal though the effects are personal. The very nature of the mind can cause us to identify sometimes even unconsciously with others illness and what we hold in mind can materialize. The thought that it must be terrible to suffer from cancer can trigger it within the body. The thought that I dont deserve to be healed can sabotage a healing. We are bombarded on tv with this horrendous illness that terrible event, mass suffering of this group that culture. The news cast is the most depressing to watch. Eckhart Tolle says "Made for pain bodies by pain bodies" Negativity lowers the immune system and makes us more prone to illness and dis-ease. So meditation and keeping good thoughts in mind is very practical in countering dis-ease. The ability to forgive is very uplifting, carnying past hurt is bad for the health. Carrying the world apon ones shoulder is not a good idea. According to "The Course in Miracles" anger is never justifyable. Like to like. Anger attracts an equal reaction from that which you are angry at, be it life in general or a person. Anger creates toxin in the body and can cause all kinds of pain. Anway bed time. Peace and pleasant dreams to all. Chris

02-09-2010, 04:27 PM	#6
greybeard Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Inverness Scotland Posts: 924	Re: The ego what is it? How to transcend? Dear trainedobserver I can understand that you want verifiable proof before you accept anything as being true. I can only refer you to the teaching of Dr Hawkins. He claims that kinesology testing confirms that his teachings and subjective experience is true. I believe him. He has spent twenty years researching spiritual truth and many other things with hundreds of volunteers using the technique. The answers were scientifically tested and found to be correct. As a bench mark facts of which the answers given by the test were not know to the test subjects were proven to be correct. Kinesology is accepted as a reliable muscle test the pioneer work done br Dr Diamond. Hawkins found that the answers were not coming from subconscious but from the field of consciousness in which everything with out exception has been recorded since time began, similar to the statement that "Not one hair on your head is left uncounted" Even when the volunteer was unaware of the question ie put in a sealed envelope on their solar plexus, the answer was correct. The answers come as true or not true to an affirmative statement. The muscle goes weak as a not yes. Dowsing is not of the same quality as it can be influenced by the mind. With love Chris

02-09-2010, 04:48 PM	#7
greybeard Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Inverness Scotland Posts: 924	Re: The ego what is it? How to transcend? Challenges can be what we make of them and they can certainly be the making of us. The life of Helen Keller is an example to all of us. The American President, whos name escapes me for the moment, in office during the lat war had polio and dident have the use of his legs yet led the country to victory. Winston Churchill was dyslexic yet he inspired Uk in its darkest hour. Some will lose faith in the face of great heart break others will take comfort from it. im just musing as thoughts come to mind. The ego thrives on lack. Chris

02-09-2010, 05:21 PM	#9
greybeard Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Inverness Scotland Posts: 924	Re: The ego what is it? How to transcend? I am very sorry to hear of your wife's condition and I know there is nothing I can say to ease the pain. Obviously no one can take comfort from such a situation. To be clear I meant some take comfort from whatever faith they have. My heart goes out to you as im sure everyone who reads this will feel for you. I will miss our conversations but I realize why in part they are painful for you. Best wishes Chris

02-09-2010, 05:38 PM	#11
mudra Avalon Spiritual Mother Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: belgium Posts: 4,919	Re: The ego what is it? How to transcend? Trainedobserver, I am sorry to hear the great suffering your wife and yourself are going through. Beyond our personal beliefs we are all humans and brothers and sisters on this earth. We can share our joys and can share our pains. And we can share our love for each other . Stay strong during these challenging times . You and your wife are in my heart. I hug you. Love for You mudra

02-09-2010, 11:10 PM	#14
14 Chakras Avalon Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 832	Re: The ego what is it? How to transcend? BEyond the ego and false God outside of us, is the reality of our own true Nature ~ Divinity within ~ Oneness. We are co-creators, we are always creating. We can't stop creating. Whatever we send out we get back. Sometimes quickly, sometimes in future lifetimes. Life is hard here because we can't see through the veil easily so we create from our illusion of separation, from our ego, and this inevitably creates suffering. When we realize the divinity lays within us, beyond our thoughts, and connect to it for all of our needs, including our highest inspirations, protection and health, then we will have the abundant life made manifest. This is no easy task, the veil is very thick on this planet. However, it is time to do so, to connect to the still small voice that lives in our heart and make it our own voice. Not my will but thine be done is truly the voice of sanity. Thinking we need to do it all by our separate self is the recipe that creates the dark age. God's will is not out side of me, it's my own higher Will. It's my enlightened Will that knows what will ultimately be of most benefit for me and all of those in this world. The trick is understanding God is not some being outside of us that is the cause of our ups and downs, rather it is our own higher enlightened Self that we can connect to when we surrender to the stillness within Now. Suffering has no easy explanation, but the reality is that this 3rd dimensional experience is but a drop in the bucket of eternity of our true infinite experience. This suffering will eventually be but a distant memory. We will know what it was like to feel so separate from who we really are, and to experience suffering, we will bring this experience back into the grandeur of who we really are, beyond suffering. As Linda Baker's signature says something like: How would we know what was cool if we didn't know what sucked? When all is said and done, the trials and tribulations of the world will give us the depth required to move up in the schoolroom of infinity and be of great help to other evolutions. As it is prophesied: The last shall be first and the first shall be last. The apparently "lowly" humans who have Pure Hearts shall be raised up on high and the last shall be first. Whereas the apparently very advanced ET types who treat human like cattle will reap as they sew and the first shall be last. One of the things humanity needs to learn is spiritual protection. Without it, we inevitably will be taking in energies that are not ours and they will make us sick both physically and spiritually. So much to learn, fortunately for us, the Golden Age is beginning officially Now! My advice, seek beyond thought, beyond ego, connect to the stillness within, the presence within, and go with the Flow the River of Life that is always MORE than we "think".

02-09-2010, 11:28 PM	#15
greybeard Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Inverness Scotland Posts: 924	Re: The ego what is it? How to transcend? Dear Gnosis5 thank you for your continuing support of this thread. May peace and the right brain prevail. Incidentally its a medical fact that the pathways in the brain are strengthened by use and the next thought finds it easier to move along the most used path. In simplicity the more we think positively the more we perceive events as positive. Unfortunately the opposite also holds true. The right brain tends to process essence -- the total picture. The left brain is into detail and can misunderstand context and its the context that gives true meaning. The ego cant see the wood for the tree. The brain is like a filing cabinet and every event is analyzed as to which file it belongs in. This process is instant and happens before the mind even registers the event. Important information can be filtered out before the event is registered so anything which dosent fit in with current stand point / belief is not recognised as relevent. Anything that confirms point of view is fast tracked to conscious awareness. so there you have it. That comes from the training received at st Annes Hospital London not from spiritual books. Chris

02-10-2010, 12:44 AM	#16
greybeard Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Inverness Scotland Posts: 924	Re: The ego what is it? How to transcend? Good to see you back here on this thread 14 chakras Your wisdom is invaluable. Recent events have caused me to think very deeply and that takes me back to AA the staring point of spiritual quest. I find it easy to share personal stuff because thats what you do in AA meetings. I befriended many in AA and the help and advice received was invaluable. Virtually everything I know is second hand but I took what resonated with me in AA, tried for size and if it worked kept it and shared it. The main cause of alcoholics leaving AA drinking again and dying is resentment. So the teaching in AA is that there is no such thing as a justifiable resentment. There are people in AA from all walks of life most are kind and gentle souls who could not cope with life and got their courage / escape from the bottle pre AA. it broke my heart to see people i loved going back on the bottle and dying. One way or another the ego convinced them that they had it sused out after some time in AA how to stay sober with out the unconditional love expressed in the fellowship. They would start to pick holes in the teachings that had saved millions of lives from this incurable illness. They would get resentful for one reason or another and leave. Yes they had it figured out intellectually but had not realized that the Higher Power expressed in that unconditional love was what was keeping them sober. Within weeks I and fellow members would be at their funeral. "When two or more are gathered in My Name" is the source of the Power. Alcoholism is not caused by excessive drinking, excessive drinking is a symptom of the disease. It is in part genetic. I know exactly what I am in that respect. I am a recovering alcoholic one day at a time. I know I dident get sober through will power, in this regard will power is a liability. I cant afford to be intellectual and loose the relationship that I have with God or I would face a painful miserable death in short order. The knowledge that I am powerless over alcohol keeps me relatively humble compared to the old egoic self I rarely go to AA now as I know that God is within me. Knowing on this level cant be intellectual. its not theory or talking about---- it is it. I cannot afford to carry the past with its perceived unfairness ( I dident ask to be a suicidal alki) or I loose gratitude for the moment and peace of mind. With love Chris

02-10-2010, 12:46 AM	#17
greybeard Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Inverness Scotland Posts: 924	Re: The ego what is it? How to transcend? hi Lisa thank you for your input. Chris

02-10-2010, 03:14 AM	#18
14 Chakras Avalon Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 832	Re: The ego what is it? How to transcend? This is a great thread and I'm happy to see it continue. Personally, I most definitely nominate it as a sticky. Chris you share some great experiences. For me a critical understanding is that there is always More, meaning whatever works for us today, can be surpassed by a higher Truth tomorrow (or when I'm ready). People most often have major a break through under one teaching, and then become mistakingly loyal to that teaching believing it is the only one for them, when really, the teaching that broke them through was not a full truth, as there is always more, and it keeps us going in circles rather than climbing higher on the path. For example, there are some that have breakthrough from fundamental Christianity with some alien channeled stuff that is not the highest, but includes more truth than their former community. This may be a step in the right direction, but may not be the most truthful teaching. Just because a teaching helped me get out of the level that I was at, doesn't mean I have to be loyal to it forever. If I am loyal to it forever, I will never surpass it. Yet no outer teaching can take us into the inner kingdom of Being that is inside of us here in the eternal Now, only a full shift in consciousness beyond beliefs can do so. The ego is always seeking to define itself based and security in not changing, security in beliefs. Whereas the Divine within us simply BE's MORE every NOW. Continuous transcendence, no attachments, always a higher Truth. Who I was yesterday is dead. I have been reborn into who I AM today, and tomorrow, I will BE who I will BE. No belief system to defend, just a state of dying to every Now, and Being reborn every Now. There's always More. For me, the real key critical trick is seeing that when I'm talking about God in me, I'm not talking about God who is separate from me, or separate from anyone here. I'm talking about my own higher Self, who I really AM. BEyond ego is ME. I AM that I AM, that's who I really AM. Each of us is a unique individualization of the infinite, and together we are MORE, and even it appears not to be the case, the reality is we are all already One. I would like to address why I believe people find it very difficult not to transcend their pain bodies (see Eckhart Tolle for explanation of pain bodies), addictions and momentum's of anger and depression, but this posts is quite long so I will save it. The reality is however, that there is much more going on in our world than our 5 senses show us, and spiritual protection will in the not so distant future be something that becomes as common for humanity as washing our hands to protect us from germs. Until then, keep up the great BEING every ONE!

02-10-2010, 03:53 AM	#19
greybeard Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Inverness Scotland Posts: 924	Re: The ego what is it? How to transcend? Thanks again 14chakras. There has been a series of ah ha! moments with a continuum of teachers. Each time the understanding has changed, perception is from a different viewpoint. Like climbing a mountain, difference is when one thinks one is at the summit another appears out of the mist one is temporally in. God is infinity. Creation and evolution are one -- an on going process -- so of course you are right 14 there is more and its beyond our wildest dreams. The potential is infinity and it dosent get much MORE than that. To be eternal would be hell if it wasn't---- "ever new" . I know I talk a lot about the teaching of Dr Hawkins and thats because he has stretched my thinking to the point that I know everything has too be given up. One must be willing to die to God in order to be born again. (not born again Christian concept) no concept or belief system is required and that seems a paradox. Hawkins died to God so he is an example that there is true life after the death of the ego. I posted a copy of his death some time back. Only God walks through the door of enlightenment at that level, then there are other levels, another paradox. One is complete at every level but there is MORE. I read some where that the Cosmos pulses in and out of existence every mini second, Dont know if thats true. We know nothing. Hawkins says--- here we go again that he is not located in his body "people talk to it because thats the way it is here" thats an indication of where he is at. I respect the teacher which is our very own self, devotion is due only to God "Gloria in Excelsis! Deo!" My belief is that our higher self is "The Holy Spirit" It was never my intention that this would be my thread, and it isn't, many fine contributions, more are needed. What you think is trivial may be important to some one else. My dearest friend Uffe said "Only an ego would start an ego thread" and of-course as usual he is right. Mine is still work in progress. I would happily take a back seat if others would take over and keep this thread alive. The subject "Transcending the ego" is vital at this time. Thanks again 14 chakras. PS whats a sticky? Last edited by greybeard; 02-10-2010 at 04:06 AM.

02-13-2010, 11:34 AM	#20
greybeard Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Inverness Scotland Posts: 924	Re: The ego what is it? How to transcend? As alluded to on the thread. Transcending the ego or at least taming it is of crucial importance if we wish to move on from the current state of this world. The level of spiritual awareness/intention is like an auto pilot on a ship. You can set it to a certain direction say North turn the steering wheel and head East but the moment you let go the wheel the auto pilot will take you North again. Similarly if you do some work on training the ego it will serve you for a while then the moment you let go of the training you will find that the selfish aspects that we all have will arise automatically and friction will occur in all relationships. The ideal relationship is one where there is alignment of will. In this world the ego is in control (the original meaning of the word ego is sin) Im not religious and not fond of the idea of being judged for our sins and its not true. (Explanation some pages back on what happens when we die.) Jesus said "God forgive them for they know not what they do" in other words spiritually unconscious, asleep, the ego in control. We have tried to force the world into peace for countless years, that hasn't worked and cant because its an egoic action. If you look at the history of Nelson Mandella, Ghandi and others of the same spiritual vibration it speaks loud and clear for alignment, not force. look at how much these two achieved against all odds. So if we want a peaceful world the we need to do what we can to personally raise our spiritual vibration. Be the change that we want to see. Others change through your example by what we do not what we say. Meditation and all spiritual practices are good and worthwhile but when you come out of meditation and that beautiful peace then what? Does the peace remain? If you get frustrated and angry because others dont see it your way, (of course your right arent you?) the ego is back full force. Unless the workings of the ego are understood and surrendered to God, then spiritual progress will be slow. Eckhart Tolle said the same about understanding "The Pain Body". another name for aspects of the ego. The mind does not have the power to transcend the ego you need Divine intervention, if you ask for help you will get it. The ego cant survive if the focus is kept in the Now, the Eternal moment. Chris

02-13-2010, 12:01 PM	#21
Frank Samuel Project Avalon Moderator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: i live in puerto rico Posts: 643	Re: The ego what is it? How to transcend? As a young man finding my way and trying to understand the world around me I place to much value on self, becoming judgmental. Now as a Father of 5 children the self no longer becomes so important, the older I get the more I realized how alike we all are. The journey might takes us in different direction, our awakening process might be slower for some while for others they are awake since the moment of their birth. Patience, love, compassion and most of all humility and gratitude. The definition of Freud of Ego never took into account the spiritual self.Focus on the journey of finding your way back home and forget about other people's interpretation of self, for the self is connected to all things.It is only our perception of the illusion which divides us as individuals , thinking that we are alone, WE are never alone, WE will never be alone. So like the song says;" Don't worry be happy ".

02-13-2010, 01:25 PM	#22
greybeard Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Inverness Scotland Posts: 924	Re: The ego what is it? How to transcend? Thanks Frank. Thats it be happy, as you said. In UK the the feeling of many is that material things bring happiness. Enough is never enough though. Success is measured in the size of the car, the house, the type of credit card. So important to be a "Big" man!!! So how come on one of the many surveys the people of Bangladesh ( one of the materially poorest) came top of the happy league while USA and UK materially wealthy were much further down the scale? Could it be that being grateful for what one has is a key factor? The ego is never happy for long, it cant stay in the Now its by nature restless, acquisitive and inquisitive. It wants to have a measure of success, a bench mark so it can judge how successful it is. It has to know as its so insecure. Even if it is successful there is now a great fear of loss so there is a drive for more and more. Chris Ps if you are a new reader to the thread can I suggest that you read some of the other pages and please contribute.

02-14-2010, 03:22 AM	#23
Gnosis5 Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 1,659	Re: The ego what is it? How to transcend? RE ego expressions, the way I decided to conduct myself is working: Instead of adding force to an idea that I consider in opposition to mine I am starting to look for the polarity, to view it as a possible polarity and seeking to merge it rather than further holding the poles apart by adding more force. I know that makes me look like (and feel like) a naive wimp at times.

02-14-2010, 11:36 PM	#25
Gnosis5 Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 1,659	Re: The ego what is it? How to transcend? Yeah, and it seems there are different words for the same thing and that gap has to be closed too. I took me a bit of effort to learn the "out-there" terminologies when I left the comfort of my Church. The more I do that the more I can see that we are not so different afterall, those of us who are on the self-improvement path(s). I'm not bragging in a bad way here, but today I helped a unit of consciousness merge a polarity (or duality -- I guess they mean the same). One end of the charged pole said "to merge" and the other end said "to separate", and because this was spoken in the timelessness of a near void it echoed out for eons, down the halls of time to my little spot on this ball of dirt. The consciousness and I both processed the energies that were forcing us to choose either one side or the other. Imagine if someone can only either have the goal of separation or the goal of merging and hardly any point in between. What wars are made of, eh!