| There is a popular movement today with the | | | | surrender. She would have to give up her |
| coming of a so called "New Age," to partake | | | | identity as an atheist-someone who has been |
| of spirituality, instead of just religion. | | | | standing against superstition. What would |
| Many of the ideas from Eastern religions | | | | her friends say? Doesn't this whole |
| stress enlightenment, and dissolution of the | | | | discussion and holding on and letting go |
| power of the ego. In these religions the | | | | sound like the fruit of the ego? That's what |
| concept of the isolated self is false. The | | | | it is. |
| idea is to come to knowledge of the true | | | | |
| self, the self that lies beyond the false | | | | As we begin to partake of these various |
| self constructed by those around us. The | | | | Eastern religions, and even Western |
| true self is the larger self, the one | | | | spirituality and mysticism, it is important |
| connected to everything. | | | | for us to remember the ego, and how it subtly |
| | | | shapes our experience of the world and our |
| In the world of dualism this is a difficult | | | | belief systems about God and humanity. |
| teaching for some. The dualists who hear it | | | | Dualism is the main tool of the ego. In |
| and agree with it work to let go of the idea | | | | order to loosen the boundaries of the ego it |
| of ego and false self quickly, wanting to | | | | is necessary for us to begin to see the world |
| abandon it right away, and wanting to be in | | | | holistically, not dualistically. In holistic |
| contact with the true self. It is the right | | | | thinking there is a place for dualism, but in |
| thing to do to them. In Eastern thinking, | | | | dualism there is no place for holistic, |
| however, this dualistic tension usually | | | | singular thinking. In the self actualized |
| doesn't exist. One example of the lack of | | | | person there is a place for ego, but in a |
| such tension can be seen in Taoism and in | | | | person with an ego ruled life, there is no |
| Tibetan Buddhism. | | | | room for self actualization or enlightenment, |
| | | | because the ego is afraid of such things. |
| In Tibetan Buddhism there are thousands and | | | | |
| thousands of wrathful and peaceful deities, | | | | While partaking of your spiritual journey, |
| as well as Bodhisattvas that you pray to | | | | therefor, be sure to notice where ego begins |
| during your journey through the bardos in the | | | | and ends. Your ego could actually be shaping |
| Tibetan Book of the Dead. In Taoist temples | | | | your spiritual experience to the point that |
| there are often pictures of Gods that people | | | | everything you experience, everything you |
| venerate. At the same time, these are | | | | study, and every teacher that you have, is |
| non-theistic religions. The practitioners | | | | being suggested by the ego so that you can |
| find no tension in the fact that there are | | | | remain the way you are and can strengthen the |
| many Gods, but none, whereas some of the | | | | beliefs that you already have about the |
| westerners try to uphold such religions as | | | | world, thus making the ego impenetrable. You |
| religions without a God. The truth is, | | | | can become more ego attached by doing |
| however, that these religions realize that | | | | spiritual exercise and meditation. If they |
| reality is too great to possibly understand. | | | | are the ones you feel comfortable with, they |
| Images of God or Gods are a tool for | | | | are probably being chosen by the ego. |
| understanding powers and concepts they can | | | | Spirituality does not feel comfortable most |
| grasp. Some feel comfortable focusing on | | | | of the time. In the beginning it rocks ones |
| Gods to do this, and some don't On the | | | | world and causes stress. It tears apart |
| surface it may seem that these groups are | | | | comfortable ideas about the world and |
| practicing different religions, but at a | | | | stretches one to the point of breaking |
| deeper level, both have the same belief. | | | | sometimes. |
| That belief is that we cannot be absolutely | | | | |
| sure until we are there. Using our energy to | | | | After the breaking and during the mending one |
| discover if there is or isn't any such things | | | | feels comfortable and one grows. If, however |
| as God is only a tool of the ego that stops | | | | there is no stress, there is no fear, |
| us from the true work of spirituality. It is | | | | disillusionment and breaking at various |
| that simple. | | | | points during one's spiritual journey, one |
| | | | should question whether he or she is really |
| In the western mind there is a great deal of | | | | doing the type of spirituality that will |
| unrecognized ego attachment. A theist must | | | | bring about enlightenment, or if he or she is |
| remain theistic because his idea of humanity | | | | religiously feeding the ego in yet another |
| and who himself is attached to his idea of | | | | way. Be aware of the ego, my friends, |
| being a theist. If he should be convinced to | | | | because the ego is a Fifth Avenue penthouse |
| become an atheist or non-theist, he will have | | | | cage when it needs to be. Through our |
| lost the battle of wits between these | | | | spiritual practice we could just be relaxing |
| different parties. He will have given one of | | | | the mind and strengthening the body so that |
| his most central core beliefs, and therefor, | | | | the ego can use it to partake of the world of |
| will have lost the battle. Accepting a new | | | | illusion with more vehemence and persistence. |
| idea of a God would make an atheist have to | | | | |