Sorry to be harping on this but it is a serious thing that needs attention, despite all the avoidance that miseducated people have regarding it. As was mentioned in previous postings, when one was very young, one had a Raggedy Ann type of doll whom one carried around as a great, first-rate pal. Then, one day, one came to the realization that the charming, smiling doll was not a real, living friend; it was fabric, stuffing, and such. It was quite a shock at first but then one got over it very quickly (finding other interests and discovering nature). Later in life, perception concerning the ego, or “me,” was much the same thing. Let us say, metaphorically, that a man carries a stick around (never letting it go and even sleeping with it) day after day, month after month, year after year — just as others taught him to do — all the while believing that it was his central self, or “I,” or “me.” Stick would feel that everything decided upon and done by thinking was what emanated (or originated) from “stick.” Stick would be thought of to be the core essence of what one was and any suggestion to “let go” of “stick” would be construed of as utter nonsense. Letting go of what seems to be the core of one’s essence (and means of control) would seem ludicrous and unimaginable.
The human organism can function beautifully with great harmony, insight, bliss, eternity, and order without clinging to the taught concept of an isolated/controlling “me” or “I.” Most everyone in society, now, has a concrete ego, isolated self, a “me” that they ardently cling to, just as has been done eons ago by our primitive ancestors. Actually look at society as it is now — with all of these “me”s and egos — with all of its chaos, wars, crimes, dishonesty, and pollution. We must change. We must grow beyond this nonsense. In previous posts, one wrote about the brain as being like two halves of a walnut… and about how certain surgeries splitting these two halves — by severing the corpus callosum — left each half not knowing what the other half was thinking. So, in actuality, two fields of consciousness were produced from one field, via advanced surgery (in living human subjects). Times and evidence have changed; yet so many of us continue to cling to the erroneous (primitive) notion of a central “I,” a central “me” or controller. For a very long time now, one — when thinking, instead of using the term “I,” — has been using the words of “this movement.” Of course, for the most part in this primitive culture, one doesn’t verbally say “this movement,” instead of “I,” when actually talking to people.
“I”, “me,” and the notion of a “central controller” are all products of thought (fabrications of thought) either learned or inherited by our culture over millions of years. “Me” depends upon (and is) a product of thought. Clinging to that is like perpetually clinging to a little stick, fabric doll, or shadow. Going beyond that is wisdom that does not preclude joy, bliss, insight involved with the eternal, and harmony. On the contrary, obstinately clinging to that creates guaranteed disharmony, sorrow, and separation. Ignorance is: Me separate from man or so-called others. Me separate from the environment. Me separate from “my fears.” Me separate from “my desires.” Me separate from “my thoughts.” “My religion, my country” separate from others. (It is all so immature and involves separation that feeds conflict, friction, and endless turmoil.)
People will read this — or will not care to read it — and go on in their standard, ordinary ways. Even those who claim to be employing sophisticated forms of zen or meditative techniques are additionally subtly entrapped via endlessly clinging to the “me” or “central controller” in many surreptitious ways. The brain engages in all kinds of subtle or unconscious tricks to maintain the existence of a supposed central controller who is domineering (even though no such center really exists). One has seen this, time and time again, in many so-called “wise” others… (who have really not changed fundamentally whatsoever). Going beyond this doesn’t demand sophisticated methods, stratagems, or meditative techniques that take time. This demands facing something that people absolutely do not want to face; additionally, it demands going into and beyond the root of conditioning. Most don’t really want to be bothered. However, actual order can only come about when real seriousness exists, beyond mere fabrications. The stick is dead; it is not part of the living tree; it is not the whole. The whole is living and is not what symbolic thought is capable of. An immoral, violent, primitive society has given you a stick to depend upon. Are you still endlessly carrying it around? Are you still relying on it, depending on it? (Actually, it is a virtual image, a symbol that we have taken to be something real — which is even less than a dead stick — but we won’t elaborate any longer at this point.) Profound compassion is, on the other hand, real and living; profound compassion goes far beyond mere symbols, images, and borders.
Ringo Starr… Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2018
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 