The Ego Dies, You Awaken

Best of Telos
2 Jun 202408:01

Summary

TLDRThis script invites viewers to journey beyond the confines of the ego towards true enlightenment. It posits the ego as a mental construct that obscures our true, boundless nature, drawing on wisdom from scriptures like the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita. The ego is depicted as a source of insatiable desires and isolation, contrasting with the enlightened state of pure awareness, love, and compassion. Practices such as mindfulness, meditation, and selfless service are highlighted as pathways to transcend the ego, revealing our authentic selves and connecting us to the divine consciousness. The script emphasizes that enlightenment is not unattainable but a natural state veiled by ego, accessible through self-inquiry and spiritual practices.

Takeaways

  • 🌟 The ego is a mental construct made up of thoughts, memories, and identifications that we often mistake for our true self.
  • 📚 Ancient scriptures like the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita teach the importance of transcending the ego to realize our divine essence.
  • 🔗 The ego creates a false sense of identity and separation from others, leading to feelings of isolation and competition.
  • 💡 The ego is never satisfied; its desires are insatiable, creating a perpetual sense of lack.
  • 🧘‍♂️ To attain enlightenment, we must let go of the ego, not by eradicating it, but by disidentifying from it and seeing it as a tool, not the master.
  • 🌌 Buddha taught mindfulness and meditation as a path to transcend the ego by observing thoughts and emotions without attachment.
  • 🌅 The true self emerges as pure awareness, love, and compassion when the ego is dissolved.
  • ⛪️ St. Francis of Assisi exemplified transcending the ego through humility, simplicity, and service, finding profound connection with all creation.
  • 🕉️ The phrase 'die before you die' encapsulates the concept of experiencing a metaphorical death of the ego for spiritual enlightenment.
  • 🤔 Self-inquiry and sincere investigation into 'who am I' can help shed the layers of ego and awaken us to our true nature.
  • 🕊️ Service to others is a potent means of transcending the ego, as it connects us with the oneness of all life and serves both ourselves and others.

Q & A

  • What is the primary message of the video script about the ego and enlightenment?

    -The primary message of the video script is that the ego is a construct of the mind that limits our true potential for enlightenment. It suggests that by transcending the ego, we can attain a state of pure awareness, love, and compassion, which is our true nature.

  • How does the script describe the ego?

    -The script describes the ego as a collection of thoughts, memories, and identifications that we mistakenly consider our true self. It is a shadow, a pale reflection of our boundless, radiant being.

  • What is the significance of the ego's illusion according to the script?

    -The ego's illusion is significant because it creates a false sense of identity and separation from others, which fosters feelings of isolation, competition, and insatiable desires. This illusion prevents us from experiencing the true depth of our being.

  • How does the script relate the teachings of Jesus in the Bible to the concept of the ego?

    -The script refers to Jesus' teaching in Matthew 16:25, emphasizing the importance of humility and surrendering the ego. It suggests that by losing our limited sense of self for the divine, we can find our true essence.

  • What does the Bhagavad Gita suggest about action and inaction in relation to the ego?

    -The Bhagavad Gita suggests that the wise see action in the midst of inaction and inaction in the midst of action, with unified consciousness and complete awareness. This implies transcending the ego to engage with life from a place of pure, undivided awareness.

  • How does the script describe the chains of the ego?

    -The script describes the chains of the ego as invisible bonds that tether us to a cycle of desires, fears, and judgments. These chains create a sense of separation and competition, and they thrive on comparison and attachment.

  • What is the philosopher Surin Kard's view on the ego and despair mentioned in the script?

    -Surin Kard's view, as mentioned in the script, is that the most common form of despair is not being who you are. The ego leads us away from our authentic self by creating a false sense of identity, which prevents us from experiencing our true depth of being.

  • What does the script suggest is necessary for enlightenment?

    -The script suggests that for enlightenment, we must let go of the ego. This does not mean eradicating it completely, as the ego has a practical function, but rather disidentifying from it and seeing it as a tool, not the master.

  • How does the script use the metaphor of a clear blue sky to explain the relationship between the ego and the true self?

    -The script uses the metaphor of a clear blue sky to illustrate that the ego is like clouds drifting across it. No matter how many clouds there are, the sky itself remains untouched, vast, and unchanging. Similarly, our true self is ever-present and unblemished by the passing clouds of thoughts and emotions.

  • What is the significance of the phrase 'die before you die' in the context of the script?

    -The phrase 'die before you die' encapsulates the concept of experiencing a metaphorical death of the ego and worldly attachments in order to achieve spiritual enlightenment and a deeper connection with the divine, as popularized in Sufi literature.

  • What practices does the script recommend for shedding the ego and attaining enlightenment?

    -The script recommends practices such as self-inquiry, meditation, and service to others. Self-inquiry involves asking 'who am I?' as a deep investigation, meditation involves observing thoughts and feelings without attachment, and service to others helps us connect with the oneness of all life.

  • How does the script describe the state of being after the death of the ego?

    -The script describes the state of being after the death of the ego as a liberation, a shedding of a heavy cloak that has obscured our inner light. It is a step into the fullness of our being, into a state of boundless love and peace.

Outlines

00:00

🌄 Exploring the Illusion of Ego

This paragraph introduces the concept of the ego as a construct of the mind, made up of thoughts, memories, and identifications that we mistake for our true self. It explains that the ego creates a false sense of self, leading to feelings of isolation and competition. Ancient scriptures like the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita are cited to illustrate the importance of transcending the ego and discovering the divine essence within.

05:02

🛡️ The Chains of the Ego

This section delves into how the ego binds us with invisible chains, keeping us trapped in a cycle of desires, fears, and judgments. The ego thrives on comparison and attachment, never satisfied with external validation. The paragraph emphasizes the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard's view on despair and the false sense of identity created by the ego, which leads us away from our true self.

✨ The Death of the Ego

Here, the discussion focuses on the necessity of letting go of the ego to attain enlightenment. It clarifies that this does not mean eradicating the ego but rather disidentifying from it and seeing it as a tool rather than the master. Buddha's teachings on mindfulness and meditation are highlighted as paths to transcend the ego, likening the true self to a clear sky untouched by passing clouds.

🌸 The Blossoming of the True Self

As the ego dissolves, our true self emerges—a state of pure awareness, love, and compassion. The paragraph references spiritual figures like St. Francis of Assisi and the Sufi concept of dying before death to achieve spiritual enlightenment. It underscores that enlightenment is the natural state of being, accessible through self-inquiry, meditation, and selfless service to others, ultimately leading to a state of boundless love and peace.

🧘 The Path to Enlightenment

The concluding paragraph encourages the reader to embark on the journey to enlightenment by shedding the layers of the ego and waking up to their true nature. It provides practical steps like self-inquiry, meditation, and selfless service to transcend the ego. The message is one of liberation, urging the reader to embrace their true self and trust in the interconnectedness of life, stepping into a state of boundless love and peace.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Ego

The term 'ego' refers to the sense of self-importance, the collection of thoughts, memories, and identifications that we often mistake for our true self. In the script, it's portrayed as a construct of the mind that can confine us within its limits, preventing us from attaining true enlightenment. It's described as a shadow, a pale reflection of our boundless, radiant being. The ego is also depicted as a source of desires, fears, and judgments, creating a false sense of identity and separation from others.

💡Enlightenment

Enlightenment, in the context of the video, is the state of true understanding and spiritual awakening. It is the ultimate goal where one transcends the ego and experiences a profound connection with the divine essence within. The script suggests that enlightenment is not just an abstract concept but a living reality that can be achieved by shedding the layers of ego and waking up to our true nature.

💡Consciousness

Consciousness is presented as the universal and boundless awareness that underlies all individual expressions. It is the true essence of who we are beyond the ego. The script encourages us to engage with life from a place of pure, undivided awareness, which is our natural state obscured by the ego. The Bhagavad Gita is quoted to emphasize the unity of consciousness in action and inaction.

💡Humility

Humility is the quality of being humble and modest, which is highlighted in the script as a key aspect of transcending the ego. It is exemplified through the teachings of Jesus in the Bible, where he speaks about the importance of surrendering the ego and the importance of losing one's life to find it, as stated in Matthew 16:25.

💡Desires

Desires are portrayed as insatiable and unending, often leading to a sense of lack and dissatisfaction. The script describes how the ego thrives on desires, fostering feelings of isolation and competition. It suggests that desires are like a bottomless pit that can never be fully satisfied, leading us away from our authentic self.

💡Meditation

Meditation is introduced as a practice to transcend the ego by observing our thoughts and emotions without attachment. It helps us to see the transient nature of our experiences and to realize that we are the witness, the silent observer beyond the ever-changing phenomena of the mind. The script uses the metaphor of a clear blue sky and clouds to illustrate how meditation can reveal our true self.

💡Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and engaged with the current moment. Buddha is mentioned as teaching mindfulness and meditation as a path to transcend the ego. By being mindful, we can begin to disidentify from our thoughts and emotions, recognizing them as transient and not the essence of who we are.

💡Authentic Self

The authentic self is the true essence of a person, beyond the facade created by the ego. The script discusses how the ego leads us away from our authentic self by creating a false sense of identity. It is only by letting go of the ego that we can experience the true depth of our being and connect with our authentic self.

💡Service

Service to others is presented as a potent means of transcending the ego. When we act selflessly, we connect with the oneness of all life, serving others as a way of serving ourselves. The script suggests that in the deepest sense, there is no separation between self and others, and service is a way to embody this truth.

💡Oneness

Oneness is the concept of the interconnectedness and unity of all life. The script emphasizes that by serving others, we are recognizing and embodying this oneness. It is the realization that there is no separation between individuals, and that we are all part of a vast, interconnected tapestry of life.

💡Self-Inquiry

Self-inquiry is a method of introspection and deep investigation into one's own nature. The script encourages us to ask ourselves 'who am I?' not as a rhetorical question, but as a sincere exploration into our true identity beyond the ego. Through self-inquiry, we can find that there is no solid, unchanging entity, only pure awareness.

Highlights

The ego is a construct of the mind, a collection of thoughts, memories, and identifications that we mistake for our true self.

The illusion of the ego tells us we are our body, name, possessions, and achievements, which is a mere reflection of our boundless being.

Jesus in the Bible teaches the importance of humility and surrendering the ego for spiritual enlightenment.

The Bhagavad Gita encourages transcending the ego and engaging with life from a place of pure, undivided awareness.

The ego binds us with invisible chains of desires, fears, and judgments, creating feelings of isolation and competition.

The ego's insatiable desires are like a bottomless pit that can never be fully satisfied.

Surin Kard wrote that despair often comes from not being who we truly are, as the ego creates a false sense of identity.

Enlightenment requires letting go of the ego, not eradicating it, as it has a practical function in navigating the world.

Buddha taught mindfulness and meditation as paths to transcend the ego by observing thoughts and emotions without attachment.

The true self is like a clear blue sky, ever-present and unblemished by the passing clouds of thoughts and emotions.

Dissolving the ego reveals our true self, a state of pure awareness, love, and compassion.

St. Francis of Assisi renounced wealth and status to live a life of simplicity and service, finding a profound connection with all creation.

The phrase 'die before you die' encapsulates the concept of experiencing a metaphorical death of the ego for spiritual enlightenment.

Enlightenment is a natural state of being, obscured by the layers of ego, and the journey involves shedding these layers to awaken to our true nature.

Self-inquiry and sincere investigation can help us find that there is no solid entity, only awareness itself.

Meditation allows us to develop a sense of spaciousness and realize that we are the awareness in which all thoughts and sensations arise and dissolve.

Service to others is a potent means of transcending the ego, as selfless acts connect us with the Oneness of all life.

The death of the ego is a liberation, shedding a heavy cloak that has obscured our inner light.

By letting go of the ego, we step into the fullness of our being, into a state of boundless love and peace.

We are part of a vast, interconnected tapestry of life, and the ocean of consciousness awaits to embrace us in its infinite depths.

Transcripts

play00:00

dear friend picture yourself at the edge

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of a Serene expansive desert its Horizon

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stretching

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endlessly As You observe the vastness

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you notice how each grain of sand is

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unique yet also a part of the greater

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whole similarly we are individual

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expressions of universal Consciousness

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but many of us remain confined within

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the limits of our

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egos today let us explore together the

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reason why the ego must die in order to

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attain true

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Enlightenment the illusion of the

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ego the ego dear Seeker is a construct

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of the mind it is the collection of

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thoughts memories and identifications

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that we mistake for our true self the

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ego tells us I am this body I am this

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name I am these possessions these

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achievements yet this sense of self is

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but a shadow a pale reflection of the

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boundless radiant being that you truly

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are consider the wisdom of the ancient

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scriptures in the Bible Jesus teaches us

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the importance of humility and

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surrendering the ego when he says for

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whoever wants to save their life will

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lose it but whoever loses their life for

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me will find it Matthew

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16:25 this profound statement invites us

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to look beyond our limited sense of self

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and to discover the divine Essence

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within similarly the Bhagavad Gita

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another Timeless spiritual text reveals

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the wise see that there is action in the

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midst of inaction and inaction in the

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midst of action their Consciousness is

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Unified and Every Act is done with

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complete awareness here the Bhagavad

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Gita encourages us to transcend the egoo

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and engage with life from a place of

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pure undivided awareness the chains of

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the

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ego the ego binds us with invisible

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chains it keeps us Tethered to a cycle

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of desires fears and judgments it

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Whispers in our ears that we are

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separate from others fostering feelings

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of isolation and competition the ego

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thrives on comparison and attachment

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constantly seeking validation and

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approval from the external world have

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you ever noticed how the ego is Never

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Satisfied no matter how much success

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wealth or recognition we attain there is

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always a lingering sense of lack a void

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that cannot be filled this is because

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the ego's desires are insatiable they

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are like a bottomless pit that can never

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be fully

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satiated the philosopher Surin kard once

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wrote the most common form of Despair is

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not being who you are the ego by

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convincing us that we are our roles

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possessions and titles leads us away

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from our authentic self it creates a

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false sense of identity a facade that

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prevents us from experiencing the true

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depth of our

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being the death of the

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ego to be enlightened we must let go of

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the ego this does not mean eradicating

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it completely for the ego has a

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practical function in navigating the

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world instead it means disidentifying

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from it seeing it for what it truly is a

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tool not the

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master Buddha the enlightened one taught

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the practice of mindfulness and

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meditation as a path to transcend the

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ego by observing our thoughts and

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emotions without attachment we begin to

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see the transient nature of our

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experiences we realize that we are the

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witness the silent Observer beyond the

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everchanging phenomena of the Mind think

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of a clear blue sky the ego is like the

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clouds that drift across it sometimes

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dark and stormy sometimes light and

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fluffy but no matter how many clouds

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there are the sky itself remains

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untouched vast and

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unchanging in the same way your true

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self is the clear sky ever presentes and

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unblemished by the passing clouds of

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thoughts and

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emotions the blossoming of true self as

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we dissolve the ego what emerges is our

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true self a state of pure awareness love

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and compassion this is not an abstract

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concept it is a living reality

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experienced by many spiritual Masters

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and Seekers throughout

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history consider the example of St

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Francis of aisi who renounced his wealth

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and status to live a life of Simplicity

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and service in his humility he found a

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profound connection with all of creation

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seeing the Divine in every being and

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every moment his famous prayer Lord make

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me an instrument of your peace reflects

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a heart that has transcended the ego and

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is attuned to the higher

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Consciousness the phrase die before you

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die is attributed to the prophet

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Muhammad though it has been popularized

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and widely quoted in Sufi literature

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including the works of

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roomi this expression encapsulates the

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Sufi concept of experiencing a

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metaphorical death of the ego and

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worldly attachments in order to achieve

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spiritual enlightenment and a deeper

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connection with the

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Divine the path to

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Enlightenment Enlightenment is not a

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distant goal attainable only by a select

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few it is the natural state of our being

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obscured by the layers of ego the

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journey to Enlightenment is a process of

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shedding these layers of waking up to

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our true nature begin with self

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inquiry ask yourself who am I not as a

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rhetorical question but as a deep

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sincere investigation observe the

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thoughts and feelings that arise and see

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if you can find the one who is thinking

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and feeling you will find that there is

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no solid unchanging entity there only

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awareness itself meditation is another

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powerful practice sit in Stillness and

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observe your breath as thoughts come and

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go simply watch them without attachment

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over time you will develop a sense of

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spaciousness a realization that you are

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the awareness in which all thoughts and

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Sensations arise and dissolve service to

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others is also a potent means of

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transcending the ego when we act

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selflessly we connect with the Oneness

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of all life in serving others we serve

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ourselves for in the deepest sense there

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is no separation between the

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two the death of the ego is not a loss

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but a Liberation it is the shedding of a

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heavy cloak that has obscured Your Inner

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Light by letting go of the ego you step

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into the fullness of your being into a

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state of boundless love and

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peace as you walk this path remember

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that you are not

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alone countless Souls have walked this

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journey before you and countless more

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will follow you are part of a vast

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interconnected tapestry of Life each

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thread woven with care and purpose so

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take a deep breath feel the warmth of

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the sun on your face and trust that you

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are exactly where you need to be the

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ocean of Consciousness awaits you ready

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to embrace you in its infinite depths

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let go of the ego and let your true self

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shine

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Related Tags
Ego DeathEnlightenmentSelf AwarenessSpiritual GrowthMindfulnessMeditationHumilityOnenessSufi WisdomUniversal Consciousness