Quote:
Originally Posted by Skybird
Jim,
I think he meant it not to offend somebody, but he referred to spirtual arguments, philosophies claiming that our idea of our ordinary everyday-self is just a construction, is an illusion. That also is why I referred to that reply of his myself above, in the way I did (#49). Ideas about the illusory nature of self and ego as expressed in for example Christian mysticism and Buddhism, point at something important, which nevertheless is easy to be misunderstood and taken as something luring people on a false track. Radical constructivism, Buddhist psychological models, Christian mystic "heresies" - all that are two-sided swords that can both cure or cut all too easily. Many people walk into the many traps left and right of these things. If I assess right what he wanted to aim at with his words, he is right in so far that we in the West indeed base on a osychology that overrates the meaning and reality of an individual ego.
However, just declaring the ego void and meaningless, also does not cut it. It serves a vital purpose.
It's - difficult... while at the same time it is not difficult at all.  |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimbuna
I note both of your responses and thank you both but felt the need for clarification so as to maintain a semblance of consistency regarding the forum rules.
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Skybird got it right. That the ego is a construct. I was referring to individuality as an illusion (along with space and time). That there is nothing real except God. Not men, not animals, not the unseen.
The ego serves the purpose of immersing oneself in experiencing being and to realize infinite potentiality in the finite (how far that infinite potentiality is realized however, depends on the individuals). That's true. With the ego weakened, life can be felt impersonal. Then again when the ego is weakened life can also be truly enjoyed without all the severe seriousness of an egoic existence.
Transcendence can be proven. I have been countless people across space-time, some animals (most revealing were a bee and a lobster), and some of the unseen. Transcendence or non-duality is a natural state of being. I don't even come to it through meditation. Meditation is just one of the ways, primarily to quieten the mind and weaken the stranglehold of the ego. I can prove non-duality in a lab condition. It's becoming my nature with continual experiential self-remembrance (non-dual glimpses).