Maturing Beyond the Ego
Many people approach meditation and yoga for physical and mental well-being, or even worldly success. At the same time the ancient wisdom traditions, the foundations to our contemporary practices, suggest that the mind, aka the ego, plays a central role in both our suffering and liberation. For many of us, identified with the ego’ this can be a challenging concept to grasp, especially when focused on external goals.
“The mind alone is the cause of bondage and liberation." ~Yoga Vasistha
“The mind is merely thoughts. Of all the thoughts, the 'I' thought is the root thought”. “The 'I' thought is the ego. The ego is the 'I am the body idea’”. ~ Ramana Maharshi
“I am not the mind, nor the senses, nor the body; I am not the doer, nor the enjoyer, nor the sufferer; I am the ever-free Self” ~ Ashtavakra
The Ego and its Misconceptions
The ego is often seen as the bane of our lives, a source of suffering that needs to be destroyed, got rid of. While we mistake this collection of thoughts and conditioning for who we are its important to understand that :
The ego is not inherently bad; it's a tool for navigating the world.
Problems arise when we over-identify with the ego, believing it to be our true and enduring self.
The Aware Ego Process
At Mind Yoga, the focus is on developing an aware ego process. This process helps individuals make more discerning choices in various aspects of life and prepares us for maturing beyond the ego :
Balanced Ambition: Instead of negating ambition, it encourages a balanced approach. By recognizing the "pusher" within, we can harness drive constructively without being consumed by it, avoiding burnout.
Healthy Competition: Understanding the ego's tendency to compare allows for healthier competition. Strive for excellence without needing to put others down.
Resilience: Recognize that setbacks are inevitable and not a reflection of self-worth. Learn from mistakes and move forward.
Compassionate Leadership: For those in leadership roles, the aware ego process fosters a more compassionate and inclusive approach.
Fulfillment Beyond External Validation: Cultivate inner peace and contentment that is not dependent on external circumstances.
How do we develop an Aware Ego Process ?
The aware ego process’ is not a fixed state or things. It is an ongoing process of expanding awareness that is able to be in the world and not be identified with it. Its important to note the ‘and’ in that sentence. Developing this process us to :
Observe thoughts and conditioned patterns without identifying with them.
Cultivate detachment by asking, "Who is talking, who is wanting, who is taking action?"
Through the aware ego process, we recognize aspects of ourselves that we project onto others.
Understanding the Multifaceted Self
Our psyche is comprised of different "selves" or sub-personalities, each with its own voice and motivations. Examples include:
The "inner critic."
The "pleaser."
The "pusher."
Through mindful observation, we can identify these selves and understand their influence. The ‘I’ that most of us consider ourselves to be is actually a group of ‘controller / protector’ selves.
