Ego or No Ego?

[3nigma]

I'm not sure who to trust on this issue. Some people (Like the author of A New Earth) say the ego should be removed, or just ignored since you can't really remove it. Others say ego can be quite helpful if used correctly, but then comes all the negatives that come with the ego.

Without Ego, I can see a fulfilled existence, but then... you don't set goals, there's no reason to. There's really no reason to do ANYTHING but exist once you absolve/ignore the ego. I know I'm looking at this perspective WITH ego, because you have to.

With ego, you can set goals, but life becomes more materialistic. Like... achieving goals is what you're living for. You're never satisfied because you keep setting bigger goals, always looking for more, never contempt with the moment. Then there are all the human problems with ego that can arise. Depression, anger, etc.

What's your take?

[Nelson]

You are your ego. Your personality is a set of behavioral responses which you determine as the best way to obtain your desires.

I don't know if all people are like me, but I enjoy achieving new heights. Furthermore, I think it is easier to be content with the moment if you satisfy your ego. A satisfied ego will produce feelings of pleasure and contentness much better than a starving one.

To make a dog mean and vicious just starve him for a couple of days, to make him calm and relaxed feed him a big meal.

The more you achieve the bigger and more satisfied you will become with yourself. While achievement and self-esteem are not directly correalted, I find the more I achieve the better I like myself. Of course, I like myself a lot to begin with :P

By obtainign our goals we profit for oursleves directly, however, other people profit as well. Atlhough it is never my intention to go out and make a buck for other people, I usually end up doing it anyways.

The man who invented steel did it for his own pleasure and profit, but the invention has helped millions, if not billions of people.

Also, depression and anger are responses that you can control in most cases.

[intuition]

I beleive in balancing your ego and recognizing it exists, its only when your ego dictates your thoughts,feelings and actions when it is at its most damaging, thus you are not in balance with your egotistical side.

Ego can dictate your whole being and control you, just like money and materialism control millions!

[Angela]

Originally Posted by 3nigma

I'm not sure who to trust on this issue. Some people (Like the author of A New Earth) say the ego should be removed, or just ignored since you can't really remove it.

I'm pretty sure Eckhart Tolle never said that the ego should be removed or ignored.

The ego isn't wrong; it's just unconscious. When you observe the ego in yourself, you are beginning to go beyond it. Don't take the ego too seriously. When you detect egoic behavior in yourself, smile. At times you may even laugh. How could humanity have been taken in by this for so long? Above all, know that the ego isn't personal. It isn't who you are. If you consider the ego to be your personal problem, that's just more ego.
--Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth

[3nigma]

Originally Posted by Angela

I'm pretty sure Eckhart Tolle never said that the ego should be removed or ignored.

I didn't finish the book. So what's his ultimate solution? Just... be aware? That's it?

[bravebluemice]

I find I use my ego like any other tool in my emotional box. I like to think of it as a balloon, as many do, because it is often inflated or deflated.

I like to think of it this way; when my ego is deflated by someone's comments, I have to pull another tool from the box to replace the emotional void (read: small emotional void).

When my ego is inflated by someone's comments, I grab hold the string and go for a nice ride.

I like to think of my emotions as a sort of emotional stock market. When the market starts to loose momentum, I can toss in a merger (funny anecdote), or an economic stimulus package (a jelly dougnut... I LOVE jelly dougnuts!). The ego is just another contributing factor; just another tool in the emotional toolbox.

Certainly it's not my identity; sticks and stones and all such nonsense, but it certainly is a convenient ride when my buddy Kramer comes over and slaps me on the back and says 'nice going' in reference to one of the chapters in my book.

For certainly, don't remove it, or ignore it, rather use it as an enlightened human being would, as an acquisition on the emotional stock market.

Good Luck,
~Brave Blue Mice.

[Dharma]

Originally Posted by 3nigma

Without Ego, I can see a fulfilled existence, but then... you don't set goals, there's no reason to. There's really no reason to do ANYTHING but exist once you absolve/ignore the ego. I know I'm looking at this perspective WITH ego, because you have to.

Realize the ego has been given the job of "Director of Manifestation" and that's not what it does. The ego allows you to perceive what you're creating in the physical world. It was meant to be a perception tool, not the director of everything.

What I quoted above is pretty on-target. Don't think you won't do anything because you don't have goals. You will move in the moment and respond to yourself in the moment. That's all we really need to do. Goals are future-oriented and come from the mind/ego. (See, the ego is trying to direct where things are going by imagining a future. All the while the ego is not the director or the creator of your experience.)

[Ak47]

"middle path"

neither too much nor too little...

[nothing too excess; the golden mean]

Aristotle...

[Marco Polo]

People without egos are boring. That's compelling enough for me.