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buddism
March 2009 
a problem caused by ego
Posted on May 1st, 2008
by 
Donan
Donan
I was talking to my father tonight about a problem he is trying to solve in a group of psychologists. It seems that they have some wrong ideas about healing people and are causing a bit of harm along the way. They cannot see it and are offended that he would suggest their methods are off base…they feel judged.
The problem is one of Ego getting in the way of correction. It is “wounding” to hear that they are not correct in their methods—he should not judge their techniques—after all they have signed on to a very popular program…the problem is, none of them have the ability to discern that their perspective is warped by their desire to be right. Whenever ego gets in the way of being corrected it is an indicator that the ego does not really know who it is—this is to say that if you must be right, you are placing your sense of self-worth in your knowledge and accomplishment and not in your intrinsic self.
In a recent discussion of Christianity where I was postulating that there is such a thing as a true Christian--someone who actually believes and acts as they espouse (the same could be said of any religion-where the actions lived match the stated conviction)--the response came back, “yes, but they are actually Buddhists”. I think this is probably true if you get right down to it. In all cases the ego is not in the way. Self has not been deprecated but has been identified as separate from ones circumstance and ability, be it spiritual or otherwise, and therefore has not been improperly raised to a hidden and unrealized glorification of self.
The correctable self is the stronger self. Correction is learning, not weakness.
The true value of self is not found in what is known or not known; it is not found in what is believed or not believed; it is not found in ability nor in talent. The true value of a being is found in full participation in, and of, life. Beyond the turning to that which is divine and the participation of spirit and soul, and perhaps even mind, in a greater collective it boils down to this: survival of self versus survival of all. The weaker of us strive for the former, but the true self recognizes that survival of self values more, even requires, the latter.
Access: PublicTagged with: Ego, correction, pop, psychology, self, Buddism, Christianity, truth, judgement, learning, community
Thanks for this Donan. I've been walking around in my yellow political raincoat and rain hat lately. I guess I 've been trying to apply what you've said to the Primary scene. We can't seem to get out of our own way. I hope to see spirit infuse religion and politics more. Little steps. The body politic, The Body politic.
Hi Ron, two weeks ago i arbitrarily placed a fuscia post it note on the wall above my desk to indicate the security alert status at the office. On a whim (as, i have learned from watching politicians, such things must always be done on whim) i downgraded it to a smaller orange post it last week. Oddly, no one seemed to care. And here it is, an election year.
I remember listening to the obscenely cheery post-post apocalyptic looped voice while sitting in the Atlanta airport. If I was in charge of Fatherland security I would use the crayola 64 for the color coding security status. As everyone knows there are 64 degrees of danger. “Attention. The security level is now (pause) burnt umbre.” But then again Donan, fuscia makes me smile, :0).
Thanks Donan, for this post. As I was reading the story of your father and the psychologists, I was reminded of this quote by Alvin Toffler, “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
I believe that Ego is primarily responsible for why, in our society, it is the most “educated” amongst us who have the most difficulty with “unlearning” and “relearning.” I, for one, have been working hard for the past five years, unlearning most of what I learned in the previous twenty. Tough work, but very rewarding. :-)
Nishtha, this is so very often the case i think–to recognize that learning does not create self and knowledge connotes no status on it's possessor–this becomes freedom to learn freely. Something all wld. do well to keep in front of their egos. So glad you are back too.
Ron, since you know the announcements at Hartsfield, i have always wanted to walk in and actively look look for “suspicious persons” to report–suspecting almost everyone, i would be forced to report myself as well. Not long ago a stranger gave me not only an article to carry with me on the plane, but an entire newspaper–my apathy overrode the tin voice over the loud speaker and contrary to repeated pleas to take action, i smiled and said thank you without alerting security.