Some look to "getting rid of the ego." When attention is focused on "an ego to be rid of," one creates "an ego to be rid of." One is creating what one wishes to annihilate.
The popular conception is that one is doing this in order to be "enlightened," that "getting rid of the ego" is necessary to be "enlightened." Now one is in double trouble.
When attention is focused on being "enlightened," one creates some anticipated state of consciousness out there somewhere in the "future," wherever that is. One is now creating "an ego to be rid of" and an "enlightenment to become" and a "future." No wonder Zen masters hit people in the head!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
George this is a great description of the dilemna of dying before one dies, as in the ego. The conscious effert to rid the ego creates something else.
ReplyDeleteThis reminded me of what I think McArthur said "old soldiers never die they just fade away". Maybe we should not think of the ego dying or being annhilated, but just slowly Faaaadddddiiiiinnnnggg away.
As we attend to the universe and become one with it, our ego just naturally fades away as part of the process. Anyway just a fade away thought. LG.