Ego
It is an instrument that every person is capable of, yet so few people practice it. Why is that? It’s probably because the ego is racing against the brain, and most people’s views on meditation are distorted.
The mind can interpret meditation as something that ‘weird people’ do, or people who ‘need to be calmed down’, or ‘those who don’t fit in’. You may have heard people say, “I’m too busy to meditate” or “I don’t need to meditate.” First, there is a quote from Ajahn Chah that goes like this: “When you have time to breathe, you have time to meditate.”, which is completely true.
“You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes a day – unless you are too busy; then you have to sit for an hour.”
Meditation is the art of returning to your true self. There is no necessity involved in this. You could argue that it takes more strength to meditate than it does to lift heavy weights at the gym. After all, it takes willpower and resilience to ‘be still’ and observe the mind without judgment in such a hectic world. Don’t confuse ‘being still’ with sitting still. Sitting still means doing nothing, while ‘being still’ involves withdrawing and withdrawing into the center of your soul.
Another point that needs to be emphasized is the way the human brain perceives things. The mind cannot understand certain events or circumstances, so it will form its own image and alienate those who do other things. This image is generated from past events and experiences, all of which form the ‘conditioned mind’.
The ego in the mind makes people believe that some things in life should never be explored. This is a limitation. People are trapped in their thoughts. No one can tell you exactly what meditation is, nor what you will feel when you do it. You have to do it yourself before jumping to a conclusion. If you can’t reach the top of the mountain and see everything around you, then your opinion is invalid.
Ego destroys the present moment. How do you let go of the ego? Well, the answer lies within. You just don’t do that. Being aware of the ego automatically dampens it, slowing its momentum and ultimately destroying it. You can manually shift the gears in your brain from the automatic ‘doing’ mode to the conscious ‘being’ mode. That said, don’t think too much about ego. Be quiet. Look after. The ego will become bored. And eventually leave. I bet you’ve all heard the expression ‘a need for a need’? A kind of hidden dissatisfaction. You ‘want’ something, but you don’t know what you ‘want’. Perhaps this dissatisfaction arises as a result of neglecting the soul?
Once the ego crumbles, your soul will be revealed. So what is the opposite of the ego? Peace. Wisdom. Love. Unit. These will all arise. If you don’t let go of the ego, life will be extremely difficult and suffering may ensue (although that may be necessary to awaken to your true self). Realize that the present moment is all there ever is, even now, in this moment, this is a moment in your life that you must cherish. Smile! This realization will empower your inner being and nourish your soul with freedom and prosperity.
Letting go of the ego, learning to ground yourself in the ‘here’ and ‘now’, and turning inward to the deepest depths of your soul, will ultimately lead to inner peace and great self-esteem. . What a wonderful revelation it is to know that the happiness you have longed for is actually within you. Start appreciating everything in life, even the moments you think are ‘small’, and take nothing for granted. Discover your indwelling spirit that lies within.