There_is_no_Chris

Hello. This post is about the use of "I" in everyday language. One of the most challenging things I have experienced while trying to maintain awareness during my day to day life is to stop referring to myself as "I", or "me", or "myself". In fact, it's so challenging that I have used it 4 times already to refer to the illusory "self" who is typing these words in this very post. One thing that Leo teaches in his videos is that this "self" is an illusion. My question for you is this: Is stopping all use of the word "I" inside of the internal narrative part of what it takes to become enlightened? How do you confront the ego when it reflexively uses "I"? I don't know how many of my thoughts are about "self" but my guess would be that about 80-90% of them are predicated on the belief that there is an "I" or "self" involved. I am very interested to hear what others on this forum have to say on this topic. Also, if there is some rule I am breaking or oversight on my part then I apologize. This is my first time posting here.

@Raquel It's really hard.

So then saying "I" is ok, but believing the monkey chatter equates to "I" is wrong? How does one view the body after enlightenment? Is it a self in its own right or is such a distinction missing the point? I'm trying to quiet the thoughts and experience the now, but still feel like I'm fundamentally separate from my environment. Are there any special meditation techniques that will demonstrate to this ape-mind that the belief in a world full of separate "I's" is false? I can intellectually grasp the cosmic consciousness and sometimes I feel like I'm brushing against it with my awareness, but that's it so far. I'm humbled by your responses, thank you