Ego needs projections to stay alive

[Gustaf]

I watched a seminar with Eckhart Tolle recently, where he was talking about what the ego (defined here as a false sense of self) needs in order to stay alive. One thing that really stood out is that it projects faults unto others which are unconscious within oneself.

In other words, the Shadow.

Now here's what's interesting. This unconscious process keeps the ego alive, through an unconscious focus of energy.  What you resist, persists. If these things weren't projected somewhere, outwards, or unto some perceived aspect of ourselves, the ego would not have momentum.  It's not just that the Shadow is the flip side of the ego, but the ego -absolutely needs it- in order to function as it is. The perceived faults and achievements must be constantly fueled and kept alive through projection. And it -must- be unconscious. Because if you make it conscious, what happens?  You see that it's a projection, and it longer seems real. The sense of separation is immediately broken.

There have been threads about this before, but I feel compelled to share it, because it comes out of my own realization.

It is all quite beautiful. Don't treat the ego as an enemy that must be ridden of, it is the same kind of projection, but towards a perceived separate piece within yourself.  Don't try to reason it out either.

Mystress' ugly mirror technique is wonderful way of discovering where the projections are.

You can also try out an experiment.
Anywhere. At your workplace, in the city, or at home with your family/partner/friends.  When you interact with somebody, or see a stranger somewhere, become aware of any thoughts or emotions you may have, a judgement. Doesn't matter what it is, how insignificant it seems.   "That guy in suit over there looks so stiff and arrogant"  Now what's this? Instead of just continuing the same thoughts, try to become more aware of what is happening.

Instead, turn your attention inside and try to check what you are feeling. What kind of feeling is created by judging the man in the suit? (Or whatever it happens to be) This feeling often gives a very clear indication of what the ego is doing. There could in this case be a sense of animosity, towards the man, or towards his clothing, or the ideas you have about the whole thing. This is fine, but the feeling matters more.  Because that very feeling contains the exact same thing that you were just judging!  Arrogance, that you are somehow better than him?  The shallowness you accused him of? Are you incapable yourself of seeing more than his clothing and posture?  What a spiritual saint you are!

Now, the second thing, is to not analyze it, don't try to do anything with it. Just watch. Insights may, and often do come, but don't get caught up in concepts. Sometimes there's an incredible sense of joy that fills you instead. The man in the suit turns into spirit having the experience of being a man in suit, and you find yourself being the same spirit. The suit loses its absolute importance.  In fact, I've found that even my ideas on a dual level sometimes changes. "Wow that's a nice suit" Who knows? It doesn't matter.

Everything transforms into a beautiful tapestry of life. A perceived flaw becomes exactly that which is the most beautiful. Ever seen a really old, rusty carwreck in a forest clearing?  How the old metal is bit by bit taking the same color as the trees, how moss is growing over it, how it is slowly melting and becoming one with the rest?

Seeing that beauty would be very hard if the attention was consumed with projections and concepts. I don't think unconscious projections are the same, as having practical opinions. Last week a mail order was delivered to the wrong town and they asked me to come pick it up.  The action is the same. I pick up the phone, I call them and tell them the mail was delivered to the wrong town. Do I call them through anger? Blaming? Mistaking the Goddess that they are for being incompetent? Or do I allow myself to become still first, before calling them and simply stating a fact that needs to be dealt with?   

Namaste, and thank you so much for the space to share
Gustaf

[Mari]

Thank You Gustaf! I got some nice insights about my own issues. I've been using Mystresses ugly mirror up quite much after her new post about it, and I've noticed many same things as she wrote in her posts. This time my Shadow was quite gentle, just observing my judgements and surrendering them.

[juergen]

Last week a mail order was delivered to the wrong town and they asked me to come pick it up.  The action is the same. I pick up the phone, I call them and tell them the mail was delivered to the wrong town. Do I call them through anger? Blaming? Mistaking the Goddess that they are for being incompetent? Or do I allow myself to become still first, before calling them and simply stating a fact that needs to be dealt with?

I agree Gustav, that they deserve Your respect! Maybe a guideline can be our expectation or guessing what comes around in turn for us. So some harshness may well be included. Respect is showing our co-beings that their jobs are important and requires an amount of seriousness.
I imagined Diana the Huntress in this context and became aware, what calmness and peacefulness does existancially for a huntress -- negatively spoken: not to frighten off Her prey; positively: to attract it! See for instance the old cave paintings with hunting charms.

I've read in a Hindu Myth lexicon about Shiva and the first 2 or 3 pages was exactly a description of Diana(Artemis)!

Then who dares to think bad of an evil Mystress who enjoys a roast of venison round about then.

Ever seen a really old, rusty carwreck in a forest clearing?  How the old metal is bit by bit taking the same color as the trees, how moss is growing over it, how it is slowly melting and becoming one with the rest?

Each forest should have its old car! ---corrosion is so much nicer on the surface of the Planet especially in a forest; and animals like human culture pieces indeed: birds fluting back all kinds of manmade sounds; sunken ships are also dearly beloved items in the underwater world.

Much of what You are saying translates for me into the awareness, that we need to deal carefully/economically with the limited conscious mind. It's a bit like reserving the toothbrusch for the teeth not to scrub the floor with it... such a pointless remark, yet i find me and my surroundings permanantly using the toothbrush on the floor.

Must be an addiction, ... and ego reduces to this addiction and the Shadow is the "blue devils"/cold turkey hangover.
The ego stuff, You know, the crappy limited beliefs are like fodder for the addiction until it's time for a turnabout. The old gurus sink like stones, with their flatteries, as soon as the free will gets rid of its addiction(at least i think it's the free will) for its former favorite thoughts.

So keep clean and sober with aquarium plants and other good stuff
Do Ya notice the Shadow on the drummer's t-shirt?

cheers, juergen

[Minamaus]

Gustav,

funny that I should come accross your post today, as I have been thinking about this very thing over the last few months, e.g. why do we judge people constantly, making us (me) feel aversion, arrogance, etc. ? I did not quite fully understand everything you wrote, but it certainly made sense and I will try and follow your suggestions.

Thanks, Gustav,

Sabrina (you might remember me from all my questions during the grounding exercise)