Lesson 5 mod 7 mind hic
- 1. Mindfulness and the Ego • Mindfulness leads to the understanding that you are more than just a form. More than your body, your thoughts, and emotions. • You are not what you identify with. • Imagine that everything you identify with falls apart (your job, your friends, your body), is there still something or someone left? • The answer is yes. You are the consciousness that observes these identifications, that sees them change or disappear. • Through the practice of mindfulness the observer in you gets stronger. This observer is not identified with experiences or concepts. • The practice of mindfulness can be seen as a way to see through the ego. By being more aware of the ego and its functioning, the influence of the ego is limited. You create options. • You alter the function of the ego through mindfulness. But what does “altering the function of the ego” exactly mean?
- 2. Mindfulness and the Ego • From the previous sections, you may come to the conclusion that the ego is “bad”. Nothing is further from the truth. • First, the ego makes it possible to get to know your non-ego, your true self. In other words, you need an ego in order to see through and also to get closer to yourself. • Moreover, if you see the ego as something “bad” an immediate struggle arises in yourself as well as the desire to change it or to get rid of it. • The ego (sometimes also called rational mind) is a tool that helps us function in the outside world. Without an ego, a mind that helps see one’s self as a standalone entity, we could not function in this world. • The ego ensures that we can live in the world of materials. The ego helps us to create, to structure and to manifest in this world. • The ego is the connection between the true self (pure consciousness or awareness) and the outside world. • If you had no ego, it would be impossible to claim your place in this world. The ego ensures that we can give space to ourselves, to be and to say “Here I am and this is how I do it ”.
- 3. Schematic representation of the function of the self and the outside world
- 4. Mindfulness and the Ego • Imagine that we were only mindful. We would only be in the infinite now. Time would not exist, good and bad would not exist anymore, goals would no longer exist; we just “are”. We would only “do” very little • Through mindfulness we can turn attention inward and consider ourselves as a starting point. From this point, we can step into the outside world. • By first making contact with what we feel, think and experience, we can subsequently take action in the world outside of us. In this manner, we can express those things which correspond with our own values. For example, if we know what we find important in our lives, we can act in accordance with this self- understanding in the outside world. • We know our strengths and also our weaknesses; we can express our true self to the outside world and make choices in which we can benefit. • This external world is now a place to express ourselves (through for example choices, creation or interaction with other people). In this case, the ego is rather a tool that helps us to be autonomous and authentic. • Research shows that people who are more mindful: a) show more autonomy b) are less dependent on the outside world for their self-confidence c) are more able to name both their strengths as well as their shortcomings.
- 5. By staying in touch with the inside world, the ego functions as a bridge between the inside world and the outside world
- 6. Mindfulness and the Ego • The ego, as discussed at the beginning of this chapter, is usually the result of a lack of contact with the inside world. • Because one is not listening to what the body is saying and one is not in contact with one’s own emotion (suppressing them), the outside world becomes the main guide for choices. • We become located in the outside world without being in contact with our own experience and consciousness. • The conditioned thinking and the outside world are now the only standards. They dictate what is “good” and what is “bad”, what is “success” and what is “failure”, what “good” professions are, what “losers” are, what is “right”, and what is “inappropriate”. • In short, the outside world becomes our guide. What we believe is important now comes from the outside. In this case the ego is no longer a tool that serves the authentic self, but it has become a stand-alone identity. It tells you who you are based on the rules of the outside world.
- 7. Mindfulness and the Ego • The biggest problem of being lost in the outside world for many people is that this world offers endless possibilities. • Having to choose among endless options can create the fear of making the wrong choice. We then may start to rely on the advice of other people in the hope that they help us finding the right answer. • However, people may give different and conflicting kinds of advice and we may become even more lost than before. • Moreover, we soon realize that it is impossible to please everybody. Whatever we choose or do, there will always be people who agree and people who disagree. • Only if we make contact with our inner world (the world of consciousness within ourselves), we can find out what we consider to be truly important in life. Then we can find out which of the many possibilities suits us and makes us happy. • Only if we know, which activities give us energy and joy, how we want to be remembered after our death and with which people we want to feel a deep connection, we can make choices that lead to happiness. Taking our inner world as the starting point of our choices thus drastically reduces the number of perceived options of the world outside ourselves.
- 8. By losing touch with our inside world, the ego functions as an independent entity that strongly influences our inside world and guides our choices.
- 9. Practice: Observing the Ego • Every human being has an ego. There is nothing wrong with it: it can be used as a useful tool, as long as you are aware of the ego and its functioning. However, identification is a process that (unconsciously) takes place for most people. • Write down beliefs you have about yourself. For example: “I am a caring person”, “I am well taken care of”, “I am intelligent”, “I cannot deal with emotions”, etc. This exercise is not about determining to what extent these beliefs are true, it’s about considering these beliefs. Our identity consists of what we think about ourselves. The ego is a product of our mind, of our thoughts. It is our identification with the story about ourselves. Because we are so attached to the thoughts and feelings about ourselves, and we believe that they are true, they largely determine our lives. • You can also learn to see these thoughts about yourself as what they are: thoughts. They are not truths. No matter how true the thoughts you have about yourself may seem, they remain thoughts. They are not truths.
- 10. Practice: Observing the Ego • This week, you might in your mind, come across one or more of the beliefs you have written down. Whenever you notice that you think, “I am…” this week, either during meditation or elsewhere, look to see if you can view it as a thought. You can say to yourself “it is just a thought”. You can also always pay special attention to the fact that you notice the thought. For example: “I notice that I am judging myself” or “I notice that I had a thought about who I am”. You do not need to analyze or challenge the thought. Awareness is sufficient. You are not your mind; you are the one who perceives the thoughts. • Feeling threatened can also be a sign of identification and ego. If you come across situations this week in which you feel attacked or have the idea that you have to protect something just note the thought. Perhaps ask yourself “What do I need to protect?” and then go back to what you are feeling. Write these experiences down during the week to gain more insight into your ego and identification patterns.
Editor's Notes
- #2: Mindfulness leads to the understanding that you are more than just a form. More than your body, your thoughts, and emotions. You are not what you identify with. Imagine that everything you identify with falls apart (your job, your friends, your body), is there still something or someone left? The answer is yes. You are the consciousness that observes these identifications, that sees them change or disappear. Through the practice of mindfulness the observer in you gets stronger. This observer is not identified with experiences or concepts. The practice of mindfulness can be seen as a way to see through the ego. By being more aware of the ego and its functioning, the influence of the ego is limited. You create options. You alter the function of the ego through mindfulness. But what does “altering the function of the ego” exactly mean?
- #3: From the previous sections, you may come to the conclusion that the ego is “bad”. Nothing is further from the truth. First, the ego makes it possible to get to know your non-ego, your true self. In other words, you need an ego in order to see through and also to get closer to yourself. Moreover, if you see the ego as something “bad” an immediate struggle arises in yourself as well as the desire to change it or to get rid of it. The ego (sometimes also called rational mind) is a tool that helps us function in the outside world. Without an ego, a mind that helps see one’s self as a standalone entity, we could not function in this world. The ego ensures that we can live in the world of materials. The ego helps us to create, to structure and to manifest in this world. The ego is the connection between the true self (pure consciousness or awareness) and the outside world. If you had no ego, it would be impossible to claim your place in this world. The ego ensures that we can give space to ourselves, to be and to say “Here I am and this is how I do it ”. Imagine that we were only mindful. We would only be in the infinite now. Time would not exist, good and bad would not exist anymore, goals would no longer exist; we just “are”. We would only “do” very little (see fig. 2). Through mindfulness we can turn attention inward and consider ourselves as a starting point. From this point, we can step into the outside world. By first making contact with what we feel, think and experience, we can subsequently take action in the world outside of us. In this manner, we can express those things which correspond with our own values. For example, if we know what we find important in our lives, we can act in accordance with this self-understanding in the outside world. We know our strengths and also our weaknesses; we can express our true self to the outside world and make choices in which we can benefit. This external world is now a place to express ourselves (through for example choices, creation or interaction with other people). In this case, the ego is rather a tool that helps us to be autonomous and authentic (see fig. 3). Research shows that people who are more mindful: a) show more autonomy b) are less dependent on the outside world for their self-confidence c) are more able to name both their strengths as well as their shortcomings.
- #5: Mindfulness leads to the understanding that you are more than just a form. More than your body, your thoughts, and emotions. You are not what you identify with. Imagine that everything you identify with falls apart (your job, your friends, your body), is there still something or someone left? The answer is yes. You are the consciousness that observes these identifications, that sees them change or disappear. Through the practice of mindfulness the observer in you gets stronger. This observer is not identified with experiences or concepts. The practice of mindfulness can be seen as a way to see through the ego. By being more aware of the ego and its functioning, the influence of the ego is limited. You create options. You alter the function of the ego through mindfulness. But what does “altering the function of the ego” exactly mean? From the previous sections, you may come to the conclusion that the ego is “bad”. Nothing is further from the truth. First, the ego makes it possible to get to know your non-ego, your true self. In other words, you need an ego in order to see through and also to get closer to yourself. Moreover, if you see the ego as something “bad” an immediate struggle arises in yourself as well as the desire to change it or to get rid of it. The ego (sometimes also called rational mind) is a tool that helps us function in the outside world. Without an ego, a mind that helps see one’s self as a standalone entity, we could not function in this world. The ego ensures that we can live in the world of materials. The ego helps us to create, to structure and to manifest in this world. The ego is the connection between the true self (pure consciousness or awareness) and the outside world. If you had no ego, it would be impossible to claim your place in this world. The ego ensures that we can give space to ourselves, to be and to say “Here I am and this is how I do it ”. Imagine that we were only mindful. We would only be in the infinite now. Time would not exist, good and bad would not exist anymore, goals would no longer exist; we just “are”. We would only “do” very little (see fig. 2). Through mindfulness we can turn attention inward and consider ourselves as a starting point. From this point, we can step into the outside world. By first making contact with what we feel, think and experience, we can subsequently take action in the world outside of us. In this manner, we can express those things which correspond with our own values. For example, if we know what we find important in our lives, we can act in accordance with this self-understanding in the outside world. We know our strengths and also our weaknesses; we can express our true self to the outside world and make choices in which we can benefit. This external world is now a place to express ourselves (through for example choices, creation or interaction with other people). In this case, the ego is rather a tool that helps us to be autonomous and authentic (see fig. 3). Research shows that people who are more mindful: a) show more autonomy b) are less dependent on the outside world for their self-confidence c) are more able to name both their strengths as well as their shortcomings.
- #7: The ego, as discussed at the beginning of this chapter, is usually the result of a lack of contact with the inside world (see fig. 4). Because one is not listening to what the body is saying and one is not in contact with one’s own emotion (suppressing them), the outside world becomes the main guide for choices. We become located in the outside world without being in contact with our own experience and consciousness. The conditioned thinking and the outside world are now the only standards. They dictate what is “good” and what is “bad”, what is “success” and what is “failure”, what “good” professions are, what “losers” are, what is “right”, and what is “inappropriate”. In short, the outside world becomes our guide. What we believe is important now comes from the outside. In this case the ego is no longer a tool that serves the authentic self, but it has become a stand-alone identity. It tells you who you are based on the rules of the outside world.
- #8: The biggest problem of being lost in the outside world for many people is that this world offers endless possibilities. Having to choose among endless options can create the fear of making the wrong choice. We then may start to rely on the advice of other people in the hope that they help us finding the right answer. However, people may give different and conflicting kinds of advice and we may become even more lost than before. Moreover, we soon realize that it is impossible to please everybody. Whatever we choose or do, there will always be people who agree and people who disagree. Only if we make contact with our inner world (the world of consciousness within ourselves), we can find out what we consider to be truly important in life. Then we can find out which of the many possibilities suits us and makes us happy. Only if we know, which activities give us energy and joy, how we want to be remembered after our death and with which people we want to feel a deep connection, we can make choices that lead to happiness. Taking our inner world as the starting point of our choices thus drastically reduces the number of perceived options of the world outside ourselves.
- #10: Every human being has an ego. There is nothing wrong with it: it can be used as a useful tool, as long as you are aware of the ego and its functioning. However, identification is a process that (unconsciously) takes place for most people. Write down beliefs you have about yourself. For example: “I am a caring person”, “I am well taken care of”, “I am intelligent”, “I cannot deal with emotions”, etc. This exercise is not about determining to what extent these beliefs are true, it’s about considering these beliefs. Our identity consists of what we think about ourselves. The ego is a product of our mind, of our thoughts. It is our identification with the story about ourselves. Because we are so attached to the thoughts and feelings about ourselves, and we believe that they are true, they largely determine our lives. You can also learn to see these thoughts about yourself as what they are: thoughts. They are not truths. No matter how true the thoughts you have about yourself may seem, they remain thoughts. They are not truths.
- #11: This week, you might in your mind, come across one or more of the beliefs you have written down. Whenever you notice that you think, “I am…” this week, either during meditation or elsewhere, look to see if you can view it as a thought. You can say to yourself “it is just a thought”. You can also always pay special attention to the fact that you notice the thought. For example: “I notice that I am judging myself” or “I notice that I had a thought about who I am”. You do not need to analyze or challenge the thought. Awareness is sufficient. You are not your mind; you are the one who perceives the thoughts. Feeling threatened can also be a sign of identification and ego. If you come across situations this week in which you feel attacked or have the idea that you have to protect something just note the thought. Perhaps ask yourself “What do I need to protect?” and then go back to what you are feeling. Write these experiences down during the week to gain more insight into your ego and identification patterns.