Discard the Ego — CasKev
Forgiveness - observe, without attaching positive or negative connotation to your thoughts and words; with judgment removed, you can replace condemnation with compassion, and truly forgive yourself and others — CasKev
Develop Awareness
You are not your thoughts - your true self is the formless observer that is aware of your thoughts
Presence - presence is achieved by using the five senses without background inner dialogue — CasKev
Develop Awareness
You are not your thoughts - your true self is the formless observer that is aware of your thoughts — CasKev
Presence - presence is achieved by using the five senses without background inner dialogue — CasKev
Stop Judging
Human Nature - authentic human nature is to seek peace, and to act with love and integrity — CasKev
Illusion of Control - the ability to choose is an illusion; everyone is a function of their physical being and their experiences; a person has no control over their creation, nor their initial environment, and therefore no true control over whatever follows... — CasKev
I am my self (a subject having unique life experiences). Since self awareness (the combination of sentience and self identification) produces personal experience, if I am not my thoughts (and physiological processes), then I am not a subject, hence; do not exist.
Also, my awareness of my thoughts (meta-cognition) is itself a mental (thinking) process. So, if I am not my thoughts, how can I be my thoughts about my thoughts? — Galuchat
Are you = your thoughts? Are do you have thoughts? That is quite a leap to say if one is not equivalent to their thoughts then they do not exist. — 0 thru 9
With regard to Eastern traditions, the OP uses psychological and sociological terms, as opposed to the terms of any particular worldview. I think these terms have been misused. — Galuchat
Certainly! No problem with science or logic at all. (Y)But the use of these terms should correspond with current science, and with common sense where science is lacking. — Galuchat
...recognizing the potential limits of the human identity/ego is somewhat of a central topic of Eastern philosophies...Western psychology, from what I have seen, does approach the subject, and various pathologies. Eg. the work of Freud and especially Jung. — 0 thru 9
Many would agree that over the past 50 or 60 years, there have been tremendous changes in the cultural, economic, educational circumstances that have seemed to have a weakening effect on the "fabric of society". Why and how might be another topic... — 0 thru 9
Some have compared the situation to that of the Native Americans after their cultures were overrun and destroyed. Even though many physically survived, their way of life was in ruins. — 0 thru 9
All i can say about the ego is i think it is what i would describe as "evolutionary biological programming" that constructs an artificial identity so as to facilitate it expressing its biological drives like jealousy, vengeance, violence, hate etc. — Arran
After having suffered from major depression for about a decade, I had a year-long reprieve during which it seemed nothing could affect my continued state of contentment. I believe this came about mostly as a result of therapy and self-help books. During this time (which was considered to be hypomanic by some), I was very thoughtful and creative. I developed a framework and tools that I thought might be able to help others achieve that enduring peace of mind. — CasKev
'Laying aside the self' is also basic to Christianity, although not all Christians will utilise the terminology. But there's not as big a gulf between the Christian and 'Eastern' teachings on such ideas as there is often thought to be. — Wayfarer
Hence "identity-denial" is innacurate description of what OP is suggesting. — Arran
The final step I envisioned was shedding identity - along with the criticisms and self-imposed restrictions that often accompany it - in order to achieve lasting peace of mind. At this stage, identity loses its importance, and becomes just another choice of how one lives their life. I am most interested in your thoughts on whether enduring contentment (in the absence of familial loss or threats to survival) could be achieved by lessening the importance of identity. — CasKev
Perhaps 'discard' is not the right word. I don't think it's possible to completely erase a sense of identity. The intent is to be aware of its existence; analyze how and why it formed; to identify the components that are self-defeating or cause suffering and discard those; and to realize that identity should be more like a work of art, a collection of choices that enrich your life and that of others.
Is this overly optimistic, or achievable given the right set of circumstances? — CasKev
Discarding the Ego as a Way to Happiness? — CasKev
which was considered to be hypomanic by some — CasKev
Develop Awareness — CasKev
Stop Judging — CasKev
Discard the Ego — CasKev
Human Importance - humans are animals; our level of intelligence is what allows the ego to form Sense of Self - we build our sense of self out of beliefs, and attachment to material forms — CasKev
However, identity-denial (as the OP proposes) is not one of them, and for good reason: the destruction of a person's identity destroys the culture they are part of, and vice versa. — Galuchat
However, identity-denial (as the OP proposes) is not one of them, and for good reason: the destruction of a person's identity destroys the culture they are part of, and vice versa. — Galuchat
I don't know about that. — Wayfarer
'Identity' is not something set in stone, it is dynamic. — Wayfarer
Basically the OP is picking up some principles based on Eastern teachings and practices which do indeed challenge the centrality of the ego. — Wayfarer
However, identity-denial (as the OP proposes) is not one of them, and for good reason: the destruction of a person's identity destroys the culture they are part of, and vice versa.
— Galuchat
I don't know about that.
— Wayfarer
What specifically don't you know about? — Galuchat
How is the static and dynamic nature of Self Identity relevant to the OP's proposal that identity should be denied? — Galuchat
your true self is the formless observer that is aware of your thoughts... — CasKev
Where do mindfulness teachings and 12 step programs rank on this list? — Galuchat
Self Identity is composed of Personal Identity and Social Identity.
1) Personal (i.e., Relational) Identity: the set of heritable attributes which remain essentially unchanged throughout the course of a person's life.
2) Social (i.e., Contextual) Identity: the set of social attributes which have their basis in social learning and change throughout the course of a person's life. — Galuchat
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