Theos-Talk Archives (January 2008 Message tt00250)

Hello Nigel,
Of course you are absolutely right in regards to the personality. However, even with that in mind, there is value in trusting one's experiences, and the key word I believe, is 'experience' rather than mentation or thoughts which seem to be more easily conducive to ego or personality. The only way that I know of to override this process of mentation is thru experience gained in meditation (and even that should not be 'over thought').
Thank you.
B.
________________________________
> To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
> From: nhcareyta@yahoo.com.au
> Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2008 07:02:48 +0000
> Subject: Theos-World Re: The value of “personal” experience.
> 
> 
> Dear Nigel
> 
> Thank you for your response and encouraging words.
> 
> You write, "It is always worth examining the nature of these
> experiences, especially if there is an emotional aspect attached to
> the experience. Our personality loves to feel 'nice' and of
> course 'right' about these matters."
> 
> These words ring very truly to me. Our personality or desire
> driven "lower" ego, as we sometimes refer to it in Theosophy, is a
> powerful system of energy which manifests initially as desire for
> itself. This energy of desire which supplements and can supercede the
> earlier energies of instinct, takes many forms including the desire
> for security, power and pleasure. In its form as pleasure or
> feeling "nice", this is something to which we might all readily
> identify. In its form as security and power it can be recognisable
> but it can also be subtle and inconspicuous to the unwary or unaware.
> In these expressions the "lower" egoic personality can be largely
> unconscious of its motivations which apparently arise, as you allude
> in another posting, from skandhas and social conditioning.
> One of the ego's "power" manifestations as you say concerns the
> desire to be "right." A sense of being "right" can bring feelings of
> security and stability to the personality. Many academics and
> intellectuals with whom I have made acquaintance have presented with
> considerable insecurities of personality. In studying a subject or
> subjects in great depth they can be attempting to compensate for
> these fears by being "right" with their knowledge. Some even go to
> great lengths by finding something where they cannot be
> proven "wrong." Atheists and cynics often fall into this category. I
> once had a long conversation with a learned gentleman who saw only
> the worst in politics. To him, all politicians were solely concerned
> with power and prestige. Having worked with a number of politicians I
> knew this to be only partly correct. Some were very concerned with
> the plight of the underprivileged and worked tirelessly for them. To
> this gentleman however, he believed they were assisting only for
> their own ends. This position is, of course, unarguable. He felt very
> secure in finding a position where he could not "lose." He was most
> pleased when people finally recognised the futility of the discussion
> with him. He rested in the "nice" and "powerful" perception of the
> apparent security of "rightness."
> Interestingly, fence-sitters, or those unprepared to commit to one
> thing or another can also create elaborate systems of thought
> guaranteed to safeguard their ego's terror of insecurity, failure or
> being "wrong."
> It seems these and many other manifestations of personality can arise
> from the unresolved issues of a damaged and painful childhood and
> early adult-hood, which to me highlights and validates your quote
> from Socrates. Indeed, as we tread the initial stages of the
> Theosophical spiritual path, that of ego-detachment, we can begin to
> discover our "lower" ego's motivations and understand them more for
> what they are. During this process we can begin to make decisions to
> proceed as we consciously choose rather than simply reacting from
> instinctual and/or often unconscious, programmed desires.
> 
> In saying the above, we perhaps need to take care not to over-analyse
> anything, including our egoic personality itself.
> The sense of affinity you and others have mentioned can be valid and
> real, as attested by countless mystics, and perhaps should be trusted
> as much if not more than our simple, analytic intellect.
> As a wise person once told me, you don't find the essence of a rose
> by tearing it apart.
> 
> Thank you too for your recent postings. It's always valuable for me
> to have more members in this group sharing their ideas and
> perspectives.
> 
> Kind regards
> Nigel
> 
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
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