MISCONCEPTIONS IN THE WAY OF ENLIGHTENMENT
Enlightenment is to realise the Self, and it means to be liberated from ignorance, from the illusion of separation, Ego. Although what I first thought of as “the Ego” is actually only referring to some egoistic tendencies. What I learnt though, is that the Ego is in fact, the entire sense of “I”, the sense of being a separate person, which is rooted in the first ever emerging thought that arises prior to every other, “I”. This “I AM-ness” is the basis of Ego. Knowing this opened up for deeper revelations and dissolution of even that.
When we feel that we call out “the Ego” it is actually the Ego noticing parts of itself, more likely the most egoistic tendencies, which until exposed have been representing and directing our perception, interpretations and actions. This is a wonderful reveling experience which loosens the grip of those tendencies. Though we often get caught up in analysing and interpreting the tendencies themselves, trying to change them, but that is like working with the symptoms instead of the virus. Very often the more desirable aspect of the Ego is highlighted and the undesirable aspect is suppressed or bypassed.
As long as there is a sense of “I AM-ness” present, Ego is too, and Self-realisation has not yet dawned. It was only the Ego trying to liberate itself from itself, like a dog chasing its own tail.
Ego is rather a constant act of creating and separating an illusory sense of “you” from creation, based upon memories and attachments. It is more an activity than an entity.
Liberation means recognising this separation as an illusion, since our very ignorance of the true underlying nature of Awareness gives the illusion a separate existence. The remedy is to realise our self as unconditioned Awareness and not try to integrate the Ego. We shouldn’t try to judge it as a good or bad illusion, which needs to be fixed, analysed or worked with, but simply recognising it as an illusion.
To integrate the Ego is to simply BE, observe without getting involved or judging. To immerse in background of Awareness and recognise that there is no actual “I” apart from the formless essence of Awareness. This is called Self-realisation and is the dissolution of self-identification; the egoic mind’s relinquishment of the hold on its projected image and the conscious dissolution of the line between “observer” and “observed”.
Inner realms of understanding ensue, a wordless silent fulfilled knowing, beyond thought and mind, and a beautiful life without the persistent self-image.
“The main requirement for spiritual growth: A yearning to know who you really are.”
Adyashanti
“What is illusion?
M.: To whom is the illusion? Find it out. Then illusion will vanish. Generally people want to know about illusion and do not examine to whom it is. It is foolish. Illusion is outside and unknown. But the seeker is considered to be known and is inside. Find out what is immediate, intimate, instead of trying to find out what is distant and unknown.”
Ramana Maharshi
“In fact, we don’t know objects; we just know ‘knowing’. And who is it that knows ‘knowing’? ‘Knowing’ is not known by something or someone outside or other than itself. ‘Knowing’ is known by ‘knowing’. In other words, all that is experienced in the experience of an object, other or world is ‘knowing’.”
Rupert Spira
“It is only through silent awareness that our physical and mental nature can change. This change is completely spontaneous. If we make an effort to change we do no more than shift our attention from one level, from one thing, to another. We remain in a vicious circle.
This only transfers energy from one point to another. It still leaves us oscillating between suffering and pleasure, each leading inevitably back to the other. Only living stillness, stillness without someone trying to be still, is capable of undoing the conditioning our biological, emotional and psychological nature has undergone.
There is no controller, no selector, no personality making choices. In choiceless living the situation is given the freedom to unfold. You do not grasp one aspect over another for there is nobody to grasp.
When you understand something and live it without being stuck to the formulation, what you have understood dissolves in your openness. In this silence change takes place of its own accord, the problem is resolved and duality ends. You are left in your glory where no one has understood and nothing has been understood.” – Jean Klein