The path to Tranquility (spring)
11. Transcending the control of ego
Perhaps everyone has experienced a similar feeling: when we are completely immersed in something, we suddenly feel that consciousness and time have stopped, leaving only the present moment. In this state, we feel an inexplicable joy and even forget the existence of death.
This feeling is actually an experience of transcending oneself. By focusing our attention, we can allow our brains to enter a state of heightened awareness, reducing stress and anxiety. But this feeling is transient, and when we return to reality, the ego regains control over the brain, making us worry about the past and the future again.
The ego is like a prison, trapping our consciousness and preventing us from freely exploring the world. At its most serious, ego often causes emotional outbursts, affecting our thinking and actions. When the ego feels hurt, we may generate negative emotions that damage our physical and mental health. Even when the self feels good, we may generate inflated positive emotions that cover our consciousness and put our lives in danger.
There are inevitable ups and downs in life, and emotions are just a signal for the brain to regulate the body. If the ego controls our emotions, bringing past memories and future associations into reality, we will get trapped in the vortex of emotions and slow down our response to the current situation. Therefore, in the moment the self disappears, we need to realize that this is an opportunity for change.
True concentration means that consciousness always controls the brain. We clearly understand the causes and consequences of each moment and can better control our emotions. The ego is cultivated from emotions, not true consciousness, which in turn becomes the cultivator of emotions. In the ego, we are bound by emotions and take them to be everything in life, forgetting our true needs.
We can make a metaphor: the ego comes from the emotional hell, it is like the minions of "Death". However, if we are no longer afraid of death and bravely concentrate on our actions, the destructive power brought by the ego cannot be unleashed. By seizing the opportunity to step away from the ego, and maintaining consciousness, we can grow in wisdom. Then, even if "Death" takes action in person, it cannot hold us captive. In this way, we can transcend the ego and achieve true peace and contentment.
12. Elegance comes from the harmony of body and mind
