Sublimity: Pathways to Peace meditation
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Being More Able to Conduct Your Life from a Place of Peace Some classic ego-based responses are: the urge to be right, when we behave negatively, anger, hurting another, and pride. Where peace is present, ego responses are absence or at least less prevalent. It’s a lifelong challenge and journey to master our egos and operate from a place of peace consistently. I found a very helpful definition of ego behaviour in a book called Beyond Ego by Art Horn: “ego is the part of you that sees itself as above, below or up against others” (p.7). Notice that his definition of ego includes not only when we feel superior to other but also when we feel inferior or lesser than others. Also notice that as Art Horn sees it, when we feel in opposition to another we are in-ego. Focus of the Meditation Fanning the flame of peace within you: putting forth the intention for peace to occupy a greater region within you and keeping ego in check. |
Meditation Reflection
The key to setting aside ego ways begins with recognizing when you are having ego-based thoughts and reactions and acting from a place of ego. Thus the need to observe, observe, observe the Self. Observe without berating and chastising but rather with the intent to raise awareness in order to choose non-ego based responses. Being aware is half the battle so to speak.
Fear not the loss of Self in the process of shedding ego behaviours. The peaceful way does not means forfeiting appropriate boundaries in your life. It is not about becoming doormats dear ones. You can and must ensure that those in your personal life and the wider community interact with you in respectful and honouring ways and you must speak your truth in addressing observed injustices and inappropriate behaviours. These however are to be done not from a place of anger, knee jerk reaction or a sense of wanting to lash out. Seek the calm and measured way. Seek to communicate for the highest and best good of all concerned. Invoke the help and guidance of your Higher-Self in ego struggles.