The recommendations to leave the self behind are numerous

 The first half of life is devoted to forming a healthy ego,

the second half is going inward and letting go of it.

Carl Jung

 

What exactly is a healthy ego? That’s the question the woke folks ask themselves. To love the neighbor as myself? To be mindful and considerate? To walk in the other’s shoes for a mile?

 

The second question, how to let go of ego is what the latter part of the awakening quest is all about. Man, that part is really hard and there are so many different paths trying to square the circle.

 

Religion is essentially appealing to the higher dimension to lift us up from the the lower, self-induced one. Sure, what we are looking for is looking for us and help is guaranteed, but there is also projection.

 

Viewing ourselves as the eternal Buddha eyes is the zen approach. Once again, some succeed eventually to see life as is, without self involvement, but viewing ourselves as observer means we are not!

 

Some view themselves as That and live their lives according to the projected higher energies. Once again, it may click for them in the end but in the meantime, there is also a lot of projection and make-believe.

 

Be mindful, do your duty, be a miracle-worker, the recommendations to transcend self are numerous. You pick the path that works for you. Transcending self you will, Jung’s evolutionary prediction is true.