A question about the self
Question: Dear Sir,
My first question is: What is Ego?
My second question is about those who lose their ‘selves’ to alcohol. Is it a neuronic activity? Can one compare this to a no-self state?
Answer: Ego is the false separation of the Self from the Whole.
In fact, ego itself leads to the creation of the self. There is no self without the ego, and vice versa.
The various forms of the ego include:
-self-consciousness-self-esteem-self-respect-attachment-desire-possession– mineness (‘my baby’)-goals/targets– fear/insecurity– ideals– hatred/venerationetc.
Liquor helps in the sense that it quietens the mind. But then the mind is quiet in stones, trees and worms also. Their mind is a-vichaar, it is incapable of thinking. This is a state of low consciousness. Mind is not alert at all, so thoughts cannot come.
Contrasted to this is the state of being thought-free (nirvichar) . Here the mind is so alert that it can watch its own thoughts. So the thoughts don’t come.
No-self might be a misleading word. It denotes two very different things.
No-self !All material world is no-self.Self is Ego.Ego is needed.Otherwise one remains a stone.Ego must be sharpened.Then ego ripens.A ripe ego dissolves.Ego goes, and goes away the self.No-self again !
As for the neurons, neurons are of the mind, by the mind and in the mind. Consciousness is not neurons. Consciousness is what makes the neurons tick.
– Based on my interactions on various e-media.
Dated: 10th June,’14
