Episode 5: The Ego - An Imposter Pretending to Be You

The Tao Te Ching has an interesting line in it, which says "First realize that you are sick, then you can move toward health."

Have you ever wondered, "Who am I, really?" In this episode, this question becomes a catalyst for a detailed exploration of the complex realm of the ego. We argue that in order to find who you are, you need to first know who you are not!

What is the ego? How does it operate? This is crucial information because, as we will explore in the episode, familiarizing yourself with the working mechanics behind the ego, gives us a much better chance of being able to observe it as it plays its game in our field of consciousness. The analogy of a football player is used, who plays as a defender: when he is familiar with the way in which the opposing striker plays, let's say he knows that the striker is left-footed, then the defender stands a much better chance of defending. In the same way, the more we are familiar with how the ego operates, the better chance we have of detaching ourselves... by observing it.

The practice of self-observation remains crucial in this, for the only way we can deal with the ego in ourselves is by observing it as it gets triggered inside of us. When the observing presence is there, that's when you have one foot out of ego and closer to who you really are, which in this episode we describe as 'formless consciousness'.

These, among others, are the ego mechanisms that we will explore in greater detail: identification with body and things, unsatiable desire, resistance to the present moment, a feeling of isolation, complaining, and self-aggrandizement.

So, are you ready to unmask the ego for the imposter that it really is and thus embark on a journey towards your true essence? Let's journey together, there's no time to lose.

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