To: K-list
Recieved: 1999/09/23 04:27
Subject: Re: [K-list] seemingly stupid questions about K
From: Martin Thompson
On 1999/09/23 04:27, Martin Thompson posted thus to the K-list:
16:38:08 Wed, 22 Sep 1999
Ville Vainio at Ville Vainio <vvainioATnospamtp.spt.fi> writes:
>On Mon, 20 Sep 1999, Martin Thompson wrote:
>
>> >I really don't understand what integrating the ego would mean. With what
>> >will it be integrated? Ego is quite simply a feeling, or a collection of
>
>> I don't really know either, of course. I just presume that it would be
>> integrated with the greater Self, i.e., all the rest of one's mental
>> what-have-you. As you say, Ego is a feeling, or as I like to think of
>> it, a collection of thoughts about who we "are". This fictional "person"
>> becomes integrated when it is congruent with the reality of our larger
>> selves. Well, I hope that makes sense, anyway! Once integrated, I would
>> expect it to be experienced as less central, that is, less important. It
>> would still be useful for dealing with the everyday world, but it would
>> no longer necessarily be thought of by yourself as the real "you".
>
>This is fully sensible, but I wouldn't use the word "integrate". We could
>just keep it simple and say that the ego is weakened. The word "integrate"
>gives me an idea where the ego is given an essential place in a system,
>and that we should embrace the ego.
Yes, that is what I am thinking. Of course, that may be just a temporary
state in a continuing process, so the situation may change later.
"Weaken" is another way of looking at it, but I must say I would not use
that word at first sight because in "integrating" I am thinking that the
ego doesn't get absolutely weakened, only relatively - as it becomes
relatively less important, yet retains all its useful strengths for you
to use when necessary.
> But this is all wordplay. The one
>thing we (k-people) should care about with ego is that we should not be
>afraid when there is not much ego to be found. Ego should just be left
>alone, to die as it's destined to do.
Maybe that's what happens; I don't know. At present, I am thinking of it
as a tool that can be left on the shelf, but is still available for use
should the occasion arise. Such an occasion may never do so, but in the
early stages I am not going to know that. Talk of eliminating the ego
therefore sounds counterproductive. I prefer "integrating" or
"transcending."
> We don't have to do any specific
>efforts to kill it. K seems to be a one-way road to enlightenment, and it
>doesn't ask us if we would like to kill the ego today, or next week.
>
>Ego is romantic stories, family, safety, comfort, safety, fireplaces,
>friendship. And yes, nature and life.
>
>
>> a person operating without any appreciable ego will be a brainwashed
>> robot, suitable for doing the tasks society assigns its sheep. So I
>
>I see that people who are low on ego can't be brainwashed, as their Wisdom
>is Infinite and They See All (slight irony intended).
If the ego has been transcended, yes.
> I can't see the
>significance you put to the social status/job. Me, I wouldn't care if I
>had to live on welfare all my life (actully, it would be great to get
>welfare, it would be much higher than the money students get).
I'd rather be a contributor to the net weal of the world. That may
happen by being a recluse or a dole collector, or it may happen by being
an entrepreneur meeting wants in exchange for cash. My particular view
gives greater odds on the entrepreneur being of greater net benefit than
the person who is paid to stay at home - but life is perfect anyway.
> My rice
>would still taste better than the beef of fat businessmen, and my P2 would
>run faster than the Athlon of an ignorant executive ;-).
Careful - you might be one one day.
--
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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