Thoughts on Ego
Ego is born the moment an infant looks up and sees its mother and realizes he, too, is being seen by her. In that moment, he becomes self-conscious for the first time and, realizing that he and she are two distinct identities, the social self is born. Ego.
Ego is a rabbit hole that goes much deeper than just being "cocky" or having self-esteem. The elimination of ego, and its desires, is the root of Buddhism, and Hinduism before it. It has layers within layers -- the social self being a sort of "image" of yourself, which you portray to society. "The act." But, even if we eliminate this false image of ourself, the actor, we find ourself trapped by ego once again, as even the image of having no image is, itself, an image -- acting like there is no act is just a more refined form of acting.
Yet, at its heart, ego is a measure of social health. If you imagine a truly egoless person, what is he like?
For one, he would have nothing to prove to anyone outside himself. That is, he would make no impression whatsoever, as he would be without personality.
Additionally, a man without ego is without differentiated categories and, therefore, has no opinions.
Does this make sense?
Ego is a rabbit hole that goes much deeper than just being "cocky" or having self-esteem. The elimination of ego, and its desires, is the root of Buddhism, and Hinduism before it. It has layers within layers -- the social self being a sort of "image" of yourself, which you portray to society. "The act." But, even if we eliminate this false image of ourself, the actor, we find ourself trapped by ego once again, as even the image of having no image is, itself, an image -- acting like there is no act is just a more refined form of acting.
Yet, at its heart, ego is a measure of social health. If you imagine a truly egoless person, what is he like?
For one, he would have nothing to prove to anyone outside himself. That is, he would make no impression whatsoever, as he would be without personality.
Additionally, a man without ego is without differentiated categories and, therefore, has no opinions.
Does this make sense?