My mind runs like the commentators of Mystery Science Theater. It doesn’t stop. It analyzes. It judges. It critiques. It wonders why those two are together, it comments on the appropriateness of that particular combination of clothing, it frets over my bills, and plans for the future things I desperately need to get done.
The Tantric teachings remind us that we are one with our
thoughts, feelings, and emotions. But,
it also cautions us that our true nature is the awareness behind those
thoughts, feelings, and emotions. In
other words, you and I were told a lot about the world as children. We also had a lot of experiences that created
belief systems about how the world works or the way the world works. This is what Psychologists affectionately
call your “ego.” The ego is your
story. It’s your collection of beliefs
that define who you are and what you hold true. The good news is that your ego has a purpose
– it keeps you grounded in a unique sense of identity. Those that don’t have healthy ego identities
can be flighty and seem to live in the stars.
As a yogi, I have plenty of friends that sleep with crystals and feel
the ‘vibrations’ of the room. They also
have trouble just being in this here and now and doing things like paying
bills. Some ego is healthy. The bad news is that most people confuse
their ego with their true (or essential) nature, which is the non-judgemental,
present-moment awareness in which looks out of ‘your’ eyes, tastes with ‘your’
mouth, kisses with ‘your’ lips, etc. If
that hurts your brain, then let’s make it easy.
You are awareness.
You are not your story. Awareness is right now. As you sit here and look at these
words. This moment. This is you – assuming you aren’t judging or
analyzing too much. Awareness is being. Your ‘story’ can confuse and disrupt your
experience of life. This is because we
have been hurt, we have been betrayed, we have seen loss, etc. And, our story-brain-ego creates all kinds
of thoughts that keep the story going.
The ego is like a thing living inside you, and it is very sensitive,
very fragile, very willful, and definitely has a fear of abandonment. This is why after 50 minutes of yoga or any
other mind-less activity, your brain cannot wait to send you straight back to
your to-do lists, your need-to-do’s, or your should-have-done’s. The ego has a HUGE fear that someday you’ll
figure it out and the gig will be up.
The ego wants to exist.
So, here’s your challenge… start to observe your
thoughts. Start to pay attention to
what you think. Ask yourself when you
have a thought, “Where does this come from?
Is this true? What belief
generated this thought? And, where did
that belief come from? Is that belief
true?.” You don’t have to abandon your
poor little ego. But, you don’t have to
let the ego run the show either.
Rumi said, “You are not just a drop in the ocean. You are
the mighty ocean in the drop.”
Your brain is 90% water and fat. About 7% of that which remains is made of
minerals that you could buy at the hardware store for about $5 bucks. So, 97% of your brain is just some ‘stuff’
that doesn’t really do anything, see anything, feel anything. Your brain is just a thing that responds to
heat, pH, hormones, etc. Your ‘sense-making-ness’
or awareness is what tells your brain what to do. You are not your brain. You are not your ego (which is created by
the brain). You are the awareness (this
present moment) using your brain and using your ego to give it a role in the “play
of life.”
The trick, in life, is to NOT create a role in the “play of life” that you don’t really like or don’t really want to play. And, for those of us on the path, the real secret is even more scary: you are NOT just creating a character in the play… you are creating the entire play itself.
The universe exists inside you – it is experiencing itself
through you, as you. Your life is only
limited by what you believe. For those
of us still in illusion, we cannot move beyond it while still a puppet of our
experience (ego-mind). Take the
reins. Guide that horse. The river has a source. It flows freely. The river does not ask to be directed. Recognize
your truth and know that you are capable of having the life you dreamed of
having. Be the hero of your own
story.
Now is the time for us to heal. Now is the time for us to return to our
Essential nature. Find that pause
within yourself – that moment of awareness.
Hold it. And, then move from
that place, questioning everything in between.
Life is a journey. Enjoy the ride.
Namaste,
Ryan
Dr. Ryan
Pride is the owner of the Moksha Institute, a firm dedicated to improving the
wellbeing of individuals, teams, and organizations through culture
transformation and leadership development.
A profit-for-purpose company, the Moksha Institute applies Ancient
Teachings for the Modern Time in order to transform striving into thriving.
For more information, please go to: www.mokshainstitute.com
