...we give a certain kind of solidity to the idea. In fact, there is no such thing as an ego, except as an idea, or group of ideas, or structure of thought. The ego, because it is a structure of thought, cannot realize anything. The structure of thought collapses when it is clearly seen by THIS to be a structure of thought, only. The sense of being a separate entity arises as a result of repetitive thoughts and disappears as a result of leaving such thoughts behind for a sufficient period of time (which will vary from body to body).
If a person is being chased by a tiger through the woods, there is just run run run. Rocks, trees, and everything else will cease to exist separately in the isness of the moment. Things reappear as separate things when there is time to reflect about the world. When a jet pilot experiences an emergency, there is no time to think; the body goes into a pure-action mode flipping switches and doing other practiced maneuvers in an effort to save the plane. Selfhood disappears until the plane is saved or the pilot has parachuted out. Many pilots who have experienced life-threatening emergencies report that there was no fear because there wasn't enough time to think about what was happening.
If the mind becomes sufficiently quiet, selfhood can be seen to arise and disappear repeatedly throughout the day. There is no constant self referentiality. We use the term "egotist" to refer to someone who is obsessively self-referential, and attaches great importance to his/her imagined identity.
Many reactions--pride, shame, guilt, etc--result from a sense of selfhood, and these reactions can significantly diminish or disappear even before selfhood, as a product of ideation, is seen through. They can diminish even more, or disappear completely, after the illusion of selfhood is seen through.
After the structure of thoughts supporting a sense of selfhood has collapsed, the body/mind still distinguishes separateness, but without identifying with separateness. Yes, the body/mind has a name and does thus and so, but there is no belief that the body is solely who one IS. The body is seen as a unique manifestation of who/what one is. Bodies come and go in THIS; THIS has no boundaries; and THIS is who/what we are. When this is clearly seen, there is a relaxation of body and mind. There is no identity that needs to be defended or enhanced, and it no longer matters whether or not there is thinking. The imagined controller of the body/mind has been seen through.
On a related subject, is there any guarantee that a body/mind freed from the illusion of selfhood will not re-construct the illusion? No. If the body/mind starts thinking self-referentially a great deal, then selfhood may reappear. Isness is always mysterious and unpredictable.
If a person is being chased by a tiger through the woods, there is just run run run. Rocks, trees, and everything else will cease to exist separately in the isness of the moment. Things reappear as separate things when there is time to reflect about the world. When a jet pilot experiences an emergency, there is no time to think; the body goes into a pure-action mode flipping switches and doing other practiced maneuvers in an effort to save the plane. Selfhood disappears until the plane is saved or the pilot has parachuted out. Many pilots who have experienced life-threatening emergencies report that there was no fear because there wasn't enough time to think about what was happening.
If the mind becomes sufficiently quiet, selfhood can be seen to arise and disappear repeatedly throughout the day. There is no constant self referentiality. We use the term "egotist" to refer to someone who is obsessively self-referential, and attaches great importance to his/her imagined identity.
Many reactions--pride, shame, guilt, etc--result from a sense of selfhood, and these reactions can significantly diminish or disappear even before selfhood, as a product of ideation, is seen through. They can diminish even more, or disappear completely, after the illusion of selfhood is seen through.
After the structure of thoughts supporting a sense of selfhood has collapsed, the body/mind still distinguishes separateness, but without identifying with separateness. Yes, the body/mind has a name and does thus and so, but there is no belief that the body is solely who one IS. The body is seen as a unique manifestation of who/what one is. Bodies come and go in THIS; THIS has no boundaries; and THIS is who/what we are. When this is clearly seen, there is a relaxation of body and mind. There is no identity that needs to be defended or enhanced, and it no longer matters whether or not there is thinking. The imagined controller of the body/mind has been seen through.
On a related subject, is there any guarantee that a body/mind freed from the illusion of selfhood will not re-construct the illusion? No. If the body/mind starts thinking self-referentially a great deal, then selfhood may reappear. Isness is always mysterious and unpredictable.
