Do Affirmations and Visualization just strengthen the ego?

[Erock]

I was really into doing affirmations and visualization, and I had just finished Creative Visualization (from Steve's reading list), when I read the Power of Now. Now I am afraid to do either because I have a feeling that it is only strengthening my ego. Isn't playing "mental-movies," even good ones, dwelling in the future? I've never heard of zen masters doing visualization or affirmations. I'm not sure what to do here, what do you all think?

Eric

[Akashic_Librarian]

Try not to focus on what works for others. They have different paths to you.

But I use visualization all the time. It doesn't strengthen my ego. it humbles it.

Its hard to explain why, and by the sounds of it, you are not so much worried about the specific thing you mentioned, the thinking in the future, I may be totally off the mark here but I get the impression that you have a more deep rooted fear of the LoA and as such you are creating excuses as to why it wouldn't work.

[magickmystik]

preferably / ideally, if you can, you stay in the 'Now' all the time, like a zen master. Your normal state throughout the day should be of no mind. A watcher not a thinker. You should watch your mind, instead being controlled by the mind. Living in the present, not in past or imaginery future.

And thinking is just tool, just like your leg is a tool. You don't use your legs all the time. You use it when necessary. So, use it only to make intention / affirmations / visualizing, to give life its appropriate images to bring forth new experiences into the moment of Now, and to work with things in your moment of Now (not ten minutes from now, but right Now)

Now

[Athena]

No. If you believe that the things you are projecting for yourself are all on the path of your spirit and purpose, then visualzations and affirmations simply strengthen that path.

Visualization is simply a tool -- If the goals you create are from your ego, then that will be strengthened, but if your goals are from your spirit and for a higher purpose, then you can use it to benefit yourself and the greater good.

Zen masters and monks seem to have a pretty linear existence, but people living in progressive societies need tools like time, money, schedules, goals, etc, so while it's good to keep some practices in balance with how the zen masters think, know what is practical for your life and purpose.

[delta]

you have to do what you feel is right for you my freind, and if at the end of the day you feel good for it then thats good. But if its not working then look in side of you and see what your heart tells you, then ask for spirit to give you the sign that you need they will help you if you just ask.
I hope it helps

[Erock]

Hey thanks for the responses. It actually makes a lot more sense now. The mind/thinking is simply a tool, and doing visualization and affirmations are using the tool. The only problem is you have to put it down when you're done (that's the tricky part).

Actually, I bet that the LoA works a lot better for people who have relatively clear minds. If a highly conscious individual put out an intention, it would probably manifest much more quickly then someone who has a bad case of the mind virus.

With that in mind, it might be helpful for people who have trouble manifesting their intentions to try to be present more frequently, so that, when they make intentions, the message they are sending to the universe is clear and not muddled by incessant thought.

These responses helped me make some connections, and I really appreciate it.

Eric

[ethereal]

you can actually be present in the moment and watch yourself visualize

i havne't tried it yet but it sounds interesting

[MartialDev]

Originally Posted by Erock

I was really into doing affirmations and visualization, and I had just finished Creative Visualization (from Steve's reading list), when I read the Power of Now. Now I am afraid to do either because I have a feeling that it is only strengthening my ego. Isn't playing "mental-movies," even good ones, dwelling in the future? I've never heard of zen masters doing visualization or affirmations. I'm not sure what to do here, what do you all think?

Nobody here wants to be a Zen master. Everybody wants to be rich and powerful, and regarded as a Zen master.

[DoAnyOfYouExist]

Speak for yourself. I niether want to be rich or powerful(not the kind of rich and powerful you speak of). I do not want to be a Zen master either, they do nothing...I want to make possitive changes around me(then we jump right back into "what is possitive"). What a complicated existence this is.