Amusing description of the ‘ego-mindvs the ‘aware-mind’ from the book ‘I’, David Hawkins p 425
To the ego, peace sounds inactive and passive because the ego thinks in terms of ‘doing’ something, such as seeking control, gain, or avoidance. The ego darts through traffic, pushes the speed limit, and watches for police cars. It fumes at delays and stupid drivers; it tailgates and curses under its breath at slow traffic. It blows its horn and passes on curves. It is driven by the hope o beating time and jumping the line. It shakes its fist at the driver who moves ahead in line and it vows terrible vengeance. While all this is going on, simultaneously the ego is planning work strategies, talking on the cell phone, and listening to the radio.
Great stuff.
Sometimes ego thinks it doesn’t do any of the things mentioned in the article, such as pushing the limit, seeking to control, etc. Sometimes the ego is thoroughly convinced it has gone beyond the “need to do something.”
E-motionally G-eared O-pinions…
Looking over “Eye of The I” again…sorry took so long to get it back to u, just got it back from Clifton.
Thanks
p.s. Has not the word ‘ego’ become a term(in this kind of literature) now for the overidentification of consciousness with the body-mind?
Yes I think exactly as you do. The ‘ego’ has morphed out of its original and highly specific context. Should we accept the new ‘definition’ or try to reinstate the original meaning …..
am i missing something here. to which original context do you mean? do you refer to the ‘ego’ of latin origin, later usurped by a poor translator rather than the more direct translation ‘the I’ (and likely meaning intended by mr. freud)
–noun, plural e·gos.
1. the “I” or self of any person; a person as thinking, feeling, and willing, and distinguishing itself from the selves of others and from objects of its thought.
2. Psychoanalysis . the part of the psychic apparatus that experiences and reacts to the outside world and thus mediates between the primitive drives of the id and the demands of the social and physical environment.
3. egotism; conceit; self-importance: Her ego becomes more unbearable each day.
4. self-esteem or self-image; feelings: Your criticism wounded his ego.
5. ( often initial capital letter ) Philosophy .
a. the enduring and conscious element that knows experience.
b. Scholasticism . the complete person comprising both body and soul.
6. Ethnology . a person who serves as the central reference point in the study of organizational and kinship relationships.
Origin:
1780–90; < Latin: I; psychoanalytic term is translation of German ( das ) Ich (the) I
According to Freud, the ego is part of personality that mediates the demands of the id, the superego and reality. The ego prevents us from acting on our basic urges (created by the id), but also works to achieve a balance with our moral and idealistic standards (created by the superego), i.e. Freud presented the ego as part of a triumvirate & encouraged its development while the modern definition posits it more negatively, as a false sense of self based entirely on mental constructs.
Good definitions David. Shows the word has some different meanings …
David Hawkins has a very specific meaning, as mentioned in an earlier post : http://littlebang.org/2011/01/03/david-hawkins-definition-of-ego/
Curiously although he was a psychologist with a huge pracice for many years and is familiar with the Freudian definition, his own useage of the term relates specifically to the path of enlightenment he outlines.
I have a lot of confidence in Hawkins Enlightenment.