• Registered: 2005-02-08

Re: Does the e-go have to go?

Lemme see if I can remember my tutorial on this stuff.

3 things relevant to this subject: ego, superego, and ID.

To me, Superego is defined as the impossible level of expectations that serves to propell humanity forward. In it's positive aspect, it provides a framework for inspirational dreams and is a wonderful drive for greater progress, but it in some people it just dominates them to the point where it's like the veteran marathon runner trying to encourage a grade school kid to keep up halfway through a 27 mile race.

ID is the stuff that's hardwired in to everyone which serves as a focus of the extreme justifications that everyone uses to validate their lives. The ID is ALWAYS in your corner looking out for your interests, but it completely lacks any semblance of morality, empathy, mercy, or restraint. The ID in it's positive aspect makes sure that your needs are being met, but in all cases only the self matters, so all other considerations are only relevant when considering how they will impact with the self. Left uncontrolled, the person becomes sadistic, manipulative, and utterly psychopathic. Think of the main character "Alex" in the early portions of Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" for a perfect example of someone whose ID has run amok.

Between these two extremes, the ego is the sense of self-identity that gets hit by both sides. The superego insists that the ego perform impossible goals and holds itself to unrealistic ideals, while the ID appeals to the base desire to indulge in what it defines as "pleasure" at the expense of everything and everybody else.

Where I'm going with all this is that I totally agree that enlightenment requires the suspension of the ego, since our understanding of reality must be suppressed in order to be appropiately receptive to alternate realities. This isn't nearly as hard as it sounds and most people would want this anyways. The real difficulty is getting the superego and the ID to shut up so the ego can take a break and learn something new - that's the hard part.

  • T-Ren
  • T-Ren
  • work in progress
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  • From: Earth Lab
  • Registered: 2004-11-17

Re: Does the e-go have to go?

Hmmm Something to chew on, Thanks.

Peace,
Teddy

"It means the Matrix can't tell you who you are" - Trinity
  • From: somewhere in time
  • Registered: 2005-04-20

Re: Does the e-go have to go?

That was interesting GibbleTronic.   Then, can the superego and the ID exist without the ego?  Or when the ego disappears, is what is, that which remains?  And as the ego goes, are we nearer to God?

Enlightenment happens!  Attachment to the ego-self leads one into delusion; but faith in one's Buddha nature leads one to enlightenment.

34 Reply by GibbleTronic (edited by GibbleTronic 2005-05-13 14:09:51)

  • Registered: 2005-02-08

Re: Does the e-go have to go?

Sheesh wrote:

That was interesting GibbleTronic.   Then, can the superego and the ID exist without the ego?  Or when the ego disappears, is what is, that which remains?  And as the ego goes, are we nearer to God?

I think as far as our spiritual growth and awareness goes, our ego is the only important part of the puzzle, the other parts having purpose only as long as the parent ego exists, or if it's gone, if they're able to attach themselves to some other ego/entity. This is why I think some learned behaviors (esp generational child abuse) have some additional attachments that are passed along unless those who are susceptable to them are able to find ways to get rid of them. I've heard stories about how sons taking on the faces of dead fathers/uncles while revealed to be in this sort of state. Some might see this sort of thing and call it a vengeful spirit, but I see it as an generational ID/superego manifestation that is desperate to remain viable.

IMO, The key isn't really to eliminate the ego, since that's where all the richness of our individuality is, but to prepare it for a better understanding of higher STO principles. The trick is to enable it to observe and choose without interference from the superego/ID. Why we experience difficulty in doing this is because our physical bodies still experience reality in 3D, and most higher STO principles are not linear, so we have to "unlearn" a lot of stuff before passing on, but once that occurs, the ID and superego cannot hold onto you UNLESS you allow them to.