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Originally Posted by ethereal  I think the key underpinning is actually that of pride, a narcissistic attachment to the secret pleasure one gets from approval. Be willing to surrender the pleasure one gets from approval, and the whole thing collapses on itself. No need to seek approval when it doesn't get you anything anymore 
There's also the corollary of being afraid of disapproval, which should be treated in the same way I think; there is some secret pleasure the ego is getting off of the feeling, which is why it persists. It seems paradoxical that the ego gets off of suffering, but it's stupid like that |
Indeed! The ego is a surprisingly cunning mental form. Although direct awareness of its' activities quickly sap it of all control. It was within Eckhart Tolle's books "Power of Now" and especially "A New Earth" that I was introduced to the more core nature and mechanics of the ego. And as you said ethereal, the ego will seek out survival by any means- just trying to live, like everything else I suppose.
heh, expectation appears to sometimes play the role of an effective staple food within the egos' diet.