Egos... Are they always bad?
Egos... Are they always bad?Subscribe |
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Thu, 05/03/2007 - 13:31
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Join Date: 2007-01-24 Forum Posts: 76 |
I'm going to be quite frank here: I love parties. I love hang out with friends. I love fun. I have now learned that "fun" is an ego, as most emotions are. My question is, is it always bad to have "fun"? Are all egos always bad? Because, "fun" is something that'd hard for me to give up. |
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Join Date: 2003-08-23
Forum Posts: 338
Its very strange that you posted this, because I was thinking about this issue on the train this morning :)
Like you, I like having fun.
My fun comprises of visiting farmers markets, shopping, baking, writing, having friends round, playing with puppies, reading blogs etc etc.
What I have realised, is that I have a lot of egos feeding off that 'fun' while I'm having it.
I've been trying to be more aware whilst involved in pleasurable activities, to stop the egos feeding off them, so that I can avoid the pleasure-pain cycle that is created and break out of it.
I want to have fun yes, but I dont want to suffer spiritually for it and I don't want to get addicted to it.
The thing is, not to give up all fun I think, but to use it and try and learn from it!
There might be some sorts of fun that we have to give up eventually, like going out and getting drunk with friends, but that is something we only need do when we feel ready for it and when we see the need for it ourselves!
a.
Site Moderator
Join Date: 2006-03-27
Forum Posts: 310
That question, "are they always bad?" is one that resonated very strongly with me for a time. An activity can be enjoyable, like bike riding or surfing... it doesn't mean an ego is neccessarily enjoying it. Obviously getting drunk is very different from those activites and a different kind of "fun". I think there are many different egos that take advantage of us in that state, lust and jealousy always came out in me. I guess I just think that if i have to get drunk to enjoy something, it can't be that enjoyable or good for me. And if i rely on getting drunk to enjoy my life, is there something else im supposed to be doing?
I guess I don't want my happiness to be determined, or rely upon other people. A good friend once said to me with regards to gnosis that they don't want or need anything else to make their life happy... Which is interestingly a strong motivation for me with the work. If we took peoples alcohol or their friends away, or their job or house... would they still be happy? Would they have peace inside? Do they lean on those things for their happiness and enjoyment? I know I do and it hurts a great deal when you start trying to break those attachments. Having friends and a home is wonderful don't get me wrong, my good friends know at least a little about gnosis and what I'm doing. What matters is our attitude towards or reliance upon external things. True happiness, different from the ego's, not contentment or fun, comes from the consciousness naturally when it is free of egos. It doesn't rely upon anything external.
The important thing is to observe inside at the sensations in our centers and remember the ego's aren't really us. Some ego's that enter our emotional and intellectual centers don't seem bad, just random day dreams about a movie or being heroic for example don't seem explicitly harmful.
What I remind myself of is that even in moments when that ego so badly wants something, it's just looking for a mean to make me its dinner and get its food. Stealing energy from me that should be for the consciousness, for me.
Ahona made a very good point. We need to see the need for change ourselves, not from someone else telling us.
Much strength mate,
Willow
Join Date: 2004-09-05
Forum Posts: 1397
I've often found myself attracted to that kind of 'fun.' Personally, as I started to learn more about myself and take up the spiritual work, I found that even though these things can be fun, I needed to spend my time doing other things. I had to work hard on those egos in order to actually stop that attraction though.
To me, I think it's always best to strive to make conscious decisions. So, if we realize that we're motivated to do certain activities because of the egos, it's best to just eliminate those egos and then see how we feel about the activity. If we still want to do it, then fine...if not, then it's not so much of a struggle because we've eliminated those egos.
Good luck with everything,
Gabrielle
Join Date: 2007-05-01
Forum Posts: 37
Obviously, there are some things that some call fun that are really detrimental to our well-being such as drunkeness or over-indulgence.
No one should strive for a life without fun. What a terrible world this would be if no one had fun!
Join Date: 2003-12-29
Forum Posts: 887
Yes, all egos are bad, but that's because they are taking us away from something far more wonderful.
There's incredible beauty and happiness in simply in being aware - in acting free of the egos. And this is fun in its truest sense. With this true fun we are still able to tell a joke, go to the gym with friends, etc. but we are having fun in a more conscious manner than with the egos.
The term "fun" as it is most often used these days, means feeding the egos, sadly.
There are different degrees to this. If we consider going out to the bar to get drunk, as has already been cited, to be fun then this is obviously just feeding the egos and it isn?t recommended.
There are also other things that are considered fun that can feed the egos or the consciousness. Humour and jokes are great, when they come from our consciousness, but sometimes telling a joke can actually feed egos. Did we tell a joke because of fear? lust? pride? bitterness? If so, then in these cases we were just indulging the egos. From experience, it seems that the ego-motivated humour is more common.
It takes effort to tell the difference between that true fun of the consciousness and the tempting, yet detrimental fun of the egos. The fun of the egos may provide a simple pleasure for an instant, but by acting with consciousness we are experiencing something far more valuable.
Fun is only bad if it stems from the egos. And no, you won't have to give up having fun by fighting against the egos; you'll just be able to have fun consciously.
I hope that helps.
Best wishes!
ML
Join Date: 2007-05-01
Forum Posts: 37
Please define "ego". Thank you.
Join Date: 2003-12-29
Forum Posts: 887
The egos are the various elements of our subconscious. They can range from states like anger and fear, to the silly things that make us scratch our nose without even realizing it.
The Self-Discovery course discusses the egos in great detail, giving the necessary tools to obtain personal experience and understanding of what they are, what it means to act with consciousness, etc.
You may also want to check out the topic of "Awareness" under both "EXERCISES" and "STUDENT EXPERIENCES" at the left.
Best wishes!
ML
Join Date: 2007-05-01
Forum Posts: 37
Thanks for your definition of "ego". My search for definitions result in it being the "conscious" self not the subconscious.
I will agree that some egos are definitely not good.
Anger and fear are emotions and not egos. It is good to learn to control these, however, I cannot see how scratching one's nose is an ego.
I will check out the subjects you mentioned.
Seeking praise is not a good thing as pride is an ego.
Join Date: 2003-12-29
Forum Posts: 887
I guess "ego" is commonly used in many different contexts, but on this site it does pertain to the subconscious.
The point I was trying to get at with the scratching the nose is that it can often be something we do without even realizing it - with no real self-awareness. States like anger and fear do the same thing, taking complete control of us, again making us lose that self-awareness.
I hope that clarifies.
Take care,
ML
Join Date: 2007-05-01
Forum Posts: 37
Thank you for explaining what the meaning of "ego" pertains in this site.
Also thank you for clarifying what you meant about scratching one's nose!