Throughout these sharings, we have been seeing the importance of observing the self, that means to understand the self.
Why?
Because if we are "normal" individuals; then we could find that our "self" is fragmented. That means, we have different "selves" inside ourselves. :-)
There is the voice of the body. The voice of the past with its own suffering. The voice of hope in the anxious future, the voice of the ego, the voice of boredom etc.
Every voice inside of us has a distinct, unique personality.
Do we recognize those voices inside us? That is what is meant by a fragmented self.
Our consciousness of individuality has taken us to the experience of a fragmented personality. Every voice will take the "lead" at different times. When that happens our personality will change accordingly.
"He does not know who I am. I will show him."
"Why does she act in that way? She does not love me….but I love her so much… She makes me suffer."
"I must achieve the illuminated stage. I want to be a pure, illuminated being."
"I am tired of this. I want something different. When I move out to a different place, everything will change and I will be happy."
The above, are examples of those inner voices. Every voice brings its own mood, its own colorful theme! :-)
The task of any spiritual walker is to unify those fragments into something cohesive, so it can be integrated into the Totality.
In brief, that is what spirituality is all about: Integration into the Totality by diluting the ego (or any of the other "voices" inside us.)
The above is not related with "Paradise," "salvation for all" or the "holy gospel" or some devotional practice to "purify" yourself.
This is about self observation.
We cannot "conquer ego" because there is nothing to conquer.
Who is conquering what?
The observer is being separated from that which is observed. Then, only thoughts will be in between. That separative thinking only preserves ego.
We can dilute ego, because under the light of awareness; ego cannot remain and that is the opportunity to go deeper into its understanding, for the dilution to last. Otherwise, ego will survive and grow stronger like an obstinate weed.
The dilution of ego means greater integration into the Totality. That is what the word "yoga" or "union" means. It is union with everything, not just with someone special or specific.
Yoga is the experience of Totality.
To integrate the "self" into that Totality means to go back into the formless.
Form and formless is a duality, which trap many individuals. Ego loves form, for that is a way to identify itself. The formless is frightful.
An integrated, sane, healthy human being should be capable of dwelling into those 2 kinds of consciousness (Individuality and Totality.)
There is no need to choose as to which one is "better" or which is "good" or "bad."
The wind blows in different directions according to the need of time, and so we can.
There is a door in the room of life. Many are only located on one side of that door. That feels safe, that side brings company and comfort but not happiness. Those who dare to know what is on the other side of the door, will be the ones who know both sides. To cross that door means to leave that comfort zone and the fear of losing what we already know.
That is the complete experience.
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