To: K-list
Recieved: 1999/09/20 01:14
Subject: Re: [K-list] seemingly stupid questions about K
From: Martin Thompson
On 1999/09/20 01:14, Martin Thompson posted thus to the K-list:
11:15:53 Sat, 18 Sep 1999
at PokimontazATnospamaol.com writes:
>
>Kundalini is usually characterized by the coiling of energy at the base of
>the spine and its movement up and through chakras in the body. Its primary
>purpose is to "To be liberated from the limited bounds of the self-centered
>and alienated ego. ( taken from
>http://hmt.com/kundalini/kundalini-faq.html#2)" I have heard much talk among
>the list about ridding oneself of Ego but to be quite honest I have never
>really fully understood the necessity of ridding it completely. Life based
>of materials, power and icons I realize is by no means a healthy existance
>but isn't Ego a necessary component of self-maintance. By my understanding
>of Ego it, when in moderation, functions to maintain balance of self. I
>seem to relate a complete lack of ego with maybe no self esteem and
>stuff...isnt ego the way we view ourselves and the ways which we all project
>that view to other people? I can see how this world may be suffering from a
>few ego problems whereby it is basing EVERYTHING on pleasing the ego, but
>that hardly makes the ego bad right?
>
I agree. I think this destroying of the ego business is just an Eastern
hang-up. Surely, the point is not to destroy it, but to integrate it,
isn't it?
According to Joseph Campbell ("Myths to Live By"), in the Eastern world,
the ego as we know it in the West is not developed particularly strongly
as considerations of family and duty are far stronger in the East. As a
result, the easiest way to enlightenment for them is indeed to crush the
ego: because it is poorly developed, that is a relatively simple task.
It also explains why so few Westerners can achieve enlightenment by
slavishly following Eastern methods: our egos are too strong for that.
Integration therefore would seem to be our preferred route - and a
healthier one for all anyway, I would suggest, unless you want to become
a dupe of some religion or other.
>But you dont have to have awakened K to become enlightened I read
>somewhere?
>
I'm interested in hearing other people's answer to this one. What the
heck is enlightenment anyway? As far as I can understand it, we're all
enlightened already but most people don't know it! To me, enlightenment
seems to consist of simply being yourself and being relaxed about it.
Big deal. But if that's so, why does self-consciousness seem such a
barrier to it when that is part of who we are too?
--
Martin Thompson martinATnospamtucana.demon.co.uk
London, UK
Home Page: http://www.tucana.demon.co.uk
Free Regular Income: http://www.virtualis.com/vr/mthomps4/vrp.html
"Everything I do and say with anyone makes a difference." Gita Bellin
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