• Stories;
• Memories;
• Beliefs;
• Desires;
• Fears;
• Judgments; and
• Feelings that we take to be true about ourselves.
And when we believe that this personal identity is who we are, it becomes the veil of distortions through which we view ourselves, other people, and the world. We can’t see things clearly, which is the source of our personal suffering.
Do you tend to feel
inadequate, afraid, or rejected? Do you play out patterns that don’t serve your peace and happiness? Then you are looking through the veil of this limited identity—and believing it is who you are.
Do you want to suffer less? Then here’s what to do: explore the separate self and how it masks the reality of things. Because, in
actuality, you are none of these limited ideas. You’ve just overlooked something very important—the truth of your being.
Opening your inner exploration beyond the structure of the mind-made personal identity, you expand into the totality of your present moment experience.
You might notice how you're taking in the world through your senses. Here you are…breathing, feeling, seeing, touching…experiencing life exactly as it is without the mind’s incessant commentary. If others are present, you come alive to being in relationship with them.
From here, relax even more to realize that you are aware, present, and conscious. It’s a palpable experience of aliveness that has nothing to do with your personal identity.
The stories, beliefs, and emotions of the separate self can arise, but this
aliveness is way more compelling. You are here and wake without being defined by anything!
This field of aware presence underlies everything—and when you bring your attention here, you have a new relationship to the elements of the separate personal identity. These limiting ideas and feelings can be here—you can welcome them
with the endless heart of compassion—but you don’t have to believe that they define who you are.
This is a radical shift of focus—not getting rid of the ego, but realizing you’re fully alive even though limiting thoughts may be present. You realize in your own experience that suffering is optional.
You haven’t killed the ego…you’ve simply expanded your awareness beyond it to discover a new, fresh way of being.
Return your attention to present moment awareness over
and over, and your attachment to the objects of suffering unravels. You get a taste of the endless freedom that’s possible—right now and in any moment.
Experiment with identifying as this alive presence and letting your attention fall away from thoughts and feelings. You're not rejecting or dissolving them. You're just not
making them real.
See? No need to kill the ego. Just be here fully in the true knowing of who you are...