Ego#2-musiclear

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/6/03 10:38:02 PM,

Chinese Medicine writes:

 

<< Because there is no one that is completely " Self " aware. Some

 

may touch into it, a bit, but in the end it is that " sense of a separate

 

self " that keeps us from joining with the Creator. The " sense of a separate

of

 

self " is the only thing that keeps each of us as what we perceive as an

 

individual spark of life. To remove the " sense of a separate self " would

remove the

 

individual spark of life and be the end of " I " . >>

 

Lon: Your first two sentances deny the possibility of enlightenment which is

the point, if not of all perennial spiritual approaches, certainly of the

Asian ones. The collective destiny (ming) of humanity, should we survive as a

species is enlightenment (ming). In my experience, any practice whether it be

spiritual, medical, yoga, meditation, prayer, etc that is devoid of the goal of

enlightenment is solely engaged in to help us feel more comfortable and better

about ourselves (often thhe worst part of ourselves). I can't agree that

enlightenment is not possible and, from my perspective, it's the single pointed

goal of the spiritual life. In my experience it's available *now* and the part

of ourselves that perceives that more time is needed or that something is " in

the way " is the part of us, the ego " that's not really interested in its own

death.

Your last two sentances are right on, though I'm guessing you perceive

this fact in a negative way. The end of the " I " is the goal. If you read the

revelations of those who have had enlightenment experiences from every culture

the overwhelming sense is of seeing through the *utter illusion* of the " I " . Can

it be terrifying? Yes. Can the mind conceive of it? No. Is it the door to the

One true reality? Yes. At least in my limited experience.

I think we sophisticated post-modern cynical thinkers have adopted the

technologies of the East, and the practices of the East, and completly lost site

of the one true point of all of it, enlightenment. It's natural after seeking

for so many years and after being betrayed by so many teachers, to become

cynical. But the fact is that many of us are addicted to seeking and really are

very interested inn finding. Our cynicism does nothing to change the fact of

enlightenment as a living possibility for all who sincerely seek it. Of course,

this would mean dropping all that we already know and, in these sophisticated

and cynical (I already know and there is nothing new) times, that is more than

many of us are willing to do.