all thought is ego

[wolfgang]

Every thought you have is also part of the ego. The ego, being a separate self that defines itself, feeds itself, fears oneness and labels everything in sight, exists through thought forms.

The spirit doesn't have thought. It has feeling and comes into our bodies as a current that meets either flow or resistance. Flow will generate feelings we look for and enjoy or would normally choose consciously. Resistance will generate worry and uncomfortable feelings in the body.

Then what to do with thoughts? Lots of thoughts are not needed. We are habitually thinking all the time. It's an addiction. This supports the ego trying to assert itself and hang on to things that aren't permanent.

Our thoughts that are not habitual are spiritual - like picking up radio signals. They are much quieter than our normal habitual flailing about. But even those thoughts are part of ego, it is the ego that is able to define and verbalize. Once a spiritual feeing is turned into thoughts, we have gone into the separate self to have the thought. But that is ok, since those thoughts are not habitual or addictive in nature.

[The Cloud]

How does one quiet this mental chatter? I've been highly aware of it lately, and it seems to go non-stop. I'll often catch myself thinking about something completely pointless, just for the purpose of thinking something. Is it a slow process of just learning to let thoughts go, or is it a quick epiphany type moment? Do you have to fully let the ego go before you can be less "thoughtful," or is it part of the process of becoming more at one with the universal existence?

[BeyondBewildered]

Yes, I too find the idea that you can think your way out of your ego very amusing. Great thread.

Would quieting the mind serve a purpose? Or dissolving the ego? You already are what you are, there is nothing to change. How can can thinking something help you become one with the universe if you already are the universe? The purpose often seems to really be merging the ego with the universe. The idea that by eliminating the ego you will find or become you is flawed; you already are you.

My mind runs rampant a lot also. But my mind is worried, not me. It will stop worrying when it stops worrying, like it always does. Worrying about worrying gets you nowhere fast. They are just thoughts, don't let your mind worry your spirit. If you're mind didn't think, you wouldn't have a mind.

[Nelson]

Okay, first of all - be more specific, I can barely understand your thread at all. It is extremly cryptic. From context I'm guessing that this post is saying "Thoughts are bad because they do not come from the spirit and they cause soem sort of spiritual friction/resistance".

I would also venture that this post has something to do with intention manifestation. Although there is no mention of it.

Once a spiritual feeing is turned into thoughts, we have gone into the separate self to have the thought. But that is ok, since those thoughts are not habitual or addictive in nature.

1. It would be nice ot have some sort of definition of spirit in this topic. What you appear to be hinting at is the idea that anything that doesn't involve rational thought is "spiritual."

2. What are the benefits of giving into your instinctual, spirtual thought over the ones that are currently possesing your brain?

3. If you start thinking "spiritual" thoughts on a frequent basis do they become the terrible addictive thoughts that we wanted to avoid in the first place?

[BeyondBewildered]

I just re read the original post, and found something I don't agree with. I don't like the notion that thoughts are ego, but feelings are spirit. Just like I don't like it when people decide that the human process of logic is somehow superior to emotions. I think it's all ego.

But then again, you could be using the word feelings to describe the indescribable. I have "feelings" that I "feel" totally differently from emotions. It isn't a feeling, and there isn't way to really "think" about it or define it with words or feel it with normal emotions.

When I say spirit, I mean the real you. That isn't a good word though, but I lack a better one. Maybe "essence" would be better.

[Billy]

Originally Posted by Nelson

1. It would be nice ot have some sort of definition of spirit in this topic. What you appear to be hinting at is the idea that anything that doesn't involve rational thought is "spiritual."

2. What are the benefits of giving into your instinctual, spirtual thought over the ones that are currently possesing your brain?

3. If you start thinking "spiritual" thoughts on a frequent basis do they become the terrible addictive thoughts that we wanted to avoid in the first place?

In order to understand spirit then you must first understand the ego. Meditation in advanced forms for a prolonged enough period will quiet the mind to such an extent that eventually you will be able to quiet the chatter of the mind and what you will have left is a background that is absolutely still and poised. The ego is always talking, the spirit never does, the ego demands, the spirit has no concept of demand, the ego is fearfull, spirit is full of grace and beauty. When I first started getting focused on spiritual matters years ago I thought I could sense a hidden current that was present when I listened to my feelings that seemed to direct me in certain ways to live a completely different life to what my ego was suggesting or demanding that I do. After some years of meditation practice and also educating myself in regards to esoteric matter I no longer think I know but have a powerfull sense of my life mission, world mission and karmic place in this universe, as well as senses that so many people in this world just cannot except or believe. When someone shows grattitude towards me I can hear their thought forms that are associated with the gesture such as"thank you" or "I need you" and the same when angry, sad whatever. These abillities are not tricks to be performed in a circus but another form of being human that takes into account many other levels of being that are just the next step that humanity must take if we are to evolve progressively and responsibly. So as far as benefits are concerned well I could never and would never go back to the the person that I was, that person is gone. The only way that spiritual "feelings" can become harmfull is when we try to conceptualize and articulate something that can never be truly examined and articulated. I noticed very early on that the ego is incredibly sensitive and fearfull of the spirit. The spirit is change while the ego finds individuality by measuring itself and its surroundings constantly which can only lead to stagnation. Spirit manifests itself as a feeling within that can be focused with proper instruction. These days when my feelings{heart} suggest a path I always follow them and they have never lied to me, they are a truly powerfull tool.

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by BeyondBewildered

I just re read the original post, and found something I don't agree with. I don't like the notion that thoughts are ego, but feelings are spirit.

For me, I find that with thoughts, there is often a degree of contrivedness, cold calculation, or manipulation. In contrast, with feeling, it's as if there's a more direct or immediate self-connection. We can instantly *know* what our body is telling us is right for us ... that's if our attention isn't overly occupied in the brain.

"Precious little do we think with our hearts, and not our minds." - Donovan.

[Freelancer]

Originally Posted by wolfgang

Every thought you have is also part of the ego. The ego, being a separate self that defines itself, feeds itself, fears oneness and labels everything in sight, exists through thought forms.

The spirit doesn't have thought. It has feeling and comes into our bodies as a current that meets either flow or resistance. Flow will generate feelings we look for and enjoy or would normally choose consciously. Resistance will generate worry and uncomfortable feelings in the body.

Then what to do with thoughts? Lots of thoughts are not needed. We are habitually thinking all the time. It's an addiction. This supports the ego trying to assert itself and hang on to things that aren't permanent.

Our thoughts that are not habitual are spiritual - like picking up radio signals. They are much quieter than our normal habitual flailing about. But even those thoughts are part of ego, it is the ego that is able to define and verbalize. Once a spiritual feeing is turned into thoughts, we have gone into the separate self to have the thought. But that is ok, since those thoughts are not habitual or addictive in nature.

I mostly agree.

But first an important question, do you think that the ego is in some way bad and should be completely abolished?

If yes then;
Why should you have spiritual thoughts?
Does this mean that rational thinking is useless?

If no then;
Very well I agree.

[wolfgang]

Originally Posted by Freelancer

I mostly agree.

But first an important question, do you think that the ego is in some way bad and should be completely abolished?

Since the ego is really an illusion, it doesn't have to be completely abolished. How do you abolish something that isn't real? However, I think the ego is a facade that even if we discover it's illusion it will still be there. There are parts of the ego that can be all about struggling and addictions and swamp the spirit with noise. Mostly the ego will just be a tool for the spirit to peer into the physical world.

If yes then;
Why should you have spiritual thoughts?
Does this mean that rational thinking is useless?

Spiritual thoughts are ego forms, none the less. Once we have thought we have become separated and defining and egotistical.

The tool of rational thought would still be part of the scene, recognized as an illusion or as something about our brain that wants to define everything and operate in time some. But it will not be so powerful and be the soul reason we do something.

If no then;
Very well I agree.

I'm not sure if I am a "yes" or a "no" for your question.

[wolfgang]

Originally Posted by Billy

The ego is always talking, the spirit never does, the ego demands, the spirit has no concept of demand, the ego is fearfull, spirit is full of grace and beauty.

...

The spirit is change while the ego finds individuality by measuring itself and its surroundings constantly which can only lead to stagnation. Spirit manifests itself as a feeling within that can be focused with proper instruction. These days when my feelings{heart} suggest a path I always follow them and they have never lied to me, they are a truly powerfull tool.

Like this!

[wolfgang]

Originally Posted by BeyondBewildered

I just re read the original post, and found something I don't agree with. I don't like the notion that thoughts are ego, but feelings are spirit. Just like I don't like it when people decide that the human process of logic is somehow superior to emotions. I think it's all ego.

So ego is also feelings for you? I have noticed when I tune into my body and feel the energy of life in me, I am not thinking. Also, depending on how peaceful I can get, I start to feel my sense of self expanding - that I feel a connection to my environment. I am not trying to define myself so much and the ego is like filo dough.

But then again, you could be using the word feelings to describe the indescribable. I have "feelings" that I "feel" totally differently from emotions. It isn't a feeling, and there isn't way to really "think" about it or define it with words or feel it with normal emotions.

I would venture to say emotions are stuck feelings. Resistance to what is, creates a tension in the body to the spiritual flow and shows up as emotions that start to pill up and makes the ego either get addicted to that or try really hard to avoid those emotions, which amounts to projecting and denning and separating. Feelings, I would say, is acceptance of or more like surrendering to what is in such a way that the feeling is brief and like a stream flowing through you. perhaps.

When I say spirit, I mean the real you. That isn't a good word though, but I lack a better one. Maybe "essence" would be better.

Yeah, well, spirit is one of the labels. it could be God, source, oneness, essence, true self, source, quantum field, being, that which is not manifested...

[kthdsn]

I agree that it would be beneficial to quieten the mind and ego, even if it were only to escape from the type of irrational thoughts that can lower our self esteem and negatively affect our lives.

I am also undecided about the nature of the ego. Is it a useful part of us, a tool for connecting our essence with the physical world or just a nuisance that we should overcome and free ourselves from? I think I would quite enjoy the experience of being ego-less for a while.

My problem is that I seem to be completely unable to quieten my mind. This is a new concept for me so I'm sure with practice I'll get there at some point, but at the moment, I can't stop the constant stream of thoughts that fill my mind. If I find myself not having a thought, it is usually replaced by running a song through my mind, which is really just another form of thought is it not?

I have been paying more attention to the kind of thoughts my mind is generating, sort of watching them so to speak. I find that this leads to more thoughts about the thoughts though, sort of like "ooh that thought was interesting" or "wow my mind is full of useless crap".

I would be very interested in learning how to shut my thoughts up so I can experience what it feels like to be in my essence without the distractions of the world and the constant stream of chatter that goes with it. Right now though it seems like my ego won't let me.

[wolfgang]

Originally Posted by Nelson

Okay, first of all - be more specific, I can barely understand your thread at all. It is extremly cryptic. From context I'm guessing that this post is saying "Thoughts are bad because they do not come from the spirit and they cause soem sort of spiritual friction/resistance".

Thoughts aren't good or bad, they just are. To be able to not cling to them is the important part so that we can find more peace. Thoughts are defining forms and as such have ego in them. Even those thoughts that come from a spiritual vibe are crossing into form and ego.

I would also venture that this post has something to do with intention manifestation. Although there is no mention of it.

I wasn't trying to allude to IM. Although, since you brought it up. I do have a conflict that "thoughts create your reality". Because I'm saying thoughts are ego. And I don't think ego creates reality, spirit does. So with IM, I look at it as you can guide thoughts to align with spirit and your intentions will be divine.

1. It would be nice ot have some sort of definition of spirit in this topic. What you appear to be hinting at is the idea that anything that doesn't involve rational thought is "spiritual."

Rational thought is what? Thoughts can be either habitual and unconscious or aware and conscious. We have a small part of thought power or awareness available otherwise it's all habitual. That small part is the spiritual part - the true you. That awareness doesn't have to think too much. Spirit is just one of those labels. Maybe being or awareness is a similar label.

2. What are the benefits of giving into your instinctual, spirtual thought over the ones that are currently possesing your brain?

Instinctual is habitual not spiritual. The patterns in our brains are not flexible and may be outdated and not fit our current life situation. If we just do the same things over and over that we did as kids, we aren't growing or changing or allowing peace and freedom to be in our being.

3. If you start thinking "spiritual" thoughts on a frequent basis do they become the terrible addictive thoughts that we wanted to avoid in the first place?

The brain will train on what ever we do over and over. I don't think spiritual thoughts are repetitive. Only the ego does that, tries to hang on to something that is not permanent. Spiritual thoughts are not the spirit, but a distillation and a descent into the ego. Although those thoughts will be more like whispers in most and hard to pick up on. And I don't think there would have to be a lot of thinking that the spirit or soul's will gives us. It would be more like you feel like going somewhere or doing something, having a hunch. perhaps.

[wolfgang]

Originally Posted by BeyondBewildered

Would quieting the mind serve a purpose? Or dissolving the ego? You already are what you are, there is nothing to change. How can can thinking something help you become one with the universe if you already are the universe? The purpose often seems to really be merging the ego with the universe. The idea that by eliminating the ego you will find or become you is flawed; you already are you.

I do wonder about the merging of the ego with the universe. It's more that we can see the ego as an illusion and it lines up with the universe or spirit/soul. I don't think we can eliminate the ego. First, if it is an illusion there is nothing to eliminate. Then if we see that illusion the ego and separation feelings can expand and the ego will be an interface to the world of some kind. It' a paradox, I know. We are individual as well as one.

I don't think thinking is the approach at all. It's feeling. Go inside our bodies and look for life energy and tune into what the current of being feels like, no need to label or have thoughts about it. Just feel and be. That will calm the habitual over drive down, I'd hope. I mean, I'm saying all this but have just started to remind myself to look inside more often. I scan my body for feeling and life, even while being an ego and listening to someone talk to me.