No Ego, No Striving?

[jakub_friso]

Hello Leo and all fellows, 

Been watching Leo's videos a while and to be honest - my world turned upside down. 

So much doubts and questions but this one resonates in my mind the most and I would like to know some opinion (maybe even answers). 

This question is related to work, career and all other activities that we do.

Does there really exist a genuine joy from doing activity or any work or we are just all neurotic egos who just can't shut up their monkey insane brain? 

I kind of know that this doesn't have to be the case but I would love to hear other opinions. 

I understand that beautiful and simple message that we should be unconditionally happy with ourselves and reality around us and the least things we cling into, the happier we are. 

But does that mean that or the western values and roles models of "working hard" and so on, just encompensate neuroticism and that all people who look succesfull in the eyes of society just cannot live with their mind because it drives them crazy? 

Really I know look at all my previous role models like for example: Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Quentin Tarantino and I just see neurotics based on the new insights that I have. 

For example: I would like to explore and maybe do architecture. Does that mean that subconsciously I'm just neurotic ego not happy with himself and his reality? 

I think it would be great if Leo would create some video on topic of: Work/Activities of Egoless person or Working with the Truth in mind.

Because, honestly, I think I'm not the only confused and he hasn't fully covered this topic yet (just with some Q&A).

Anyway, thank you so much for all your great work Leo, you really changed my life like anybody else and thanks all of you for your answers, insights and opinions. 

[Arman]

13 minutes ago, jakub_friso said:

Because, honestly, I think I'm not the only confused and he hasn't fully covered this topic yet (just with some Q&A).

 

In fact, it's a very common pitfall and stepping stone. 

26 minutes ago, jakub_friso said:

Does there really exist a genuine joy from doing activity or any work or we are just all neurotic egos who just can't shut up their monkey insane brain? 

I suggest that yes indeed there is a genuine joy from activity and work, though you should explore this for your own. Perhaps inquire into what 'genuine joy' means to you. The more we dissolve neurosis, the more genuine joy we can experience as opposed to lesser pleasures. Lesser pleasures might stimulate us temporarily but come with a cost and lead to unhappiness down the line. These are different to experiences of genuine joy, which occur when we can let go of the the 'neurosis of ego'. The mind has these neurotic contractions through its innocence, attempting to grasp at and attach itself through the various different facets of experience in order to increase joy and resist and escape pain, but in doing so actually detracts from genuine joy and creates further neurosis. 

This does not however, mean that all experiences, all desires, all pleasures and all striving are merely the projection of ego contraction. It almost seems there is an implication that if we were to dissolve ego, we wouldn't wish to do anything. But that's just not the case. Consider plants and nature and the way life carries on creating. Even plants have a kind of striving. Are they doing so out of their neurosis? 

31 minutes ago, jakub_friso said:

But does that mean that or the western values and roles models of "working hard" and so on, just encompensate neuroticism and that all people who look succesfull in the eyes of society just cannot live with their mind because it drives them crazy? 

 

I'm sure that's true for a lot of people, but not all. Depends on the degree of awareness. Generally speaking, I personally think that many western values do tend to drive people deeper into neurosis and fear driven ego, but that doesn't have to be the case. I think it's more of a reflection of where humanity is at in general.

33 minutes ago, jakub_friso said:

For example: I would like to explore and maybe do architecture. Does that mean that subconsciously I'm just neurotic ego not happy with himself and his reality? 

 

Possibly... maybe even probably. Explore for yourself and discover your motives. If you discover they are based in fear, lack or other qualities of the contracted ego, then aim to remove and dissolve these things. Once dissolved, it doesn't necessarily mean you won't want to be an architect anymore. You may continue to seek and move towards that goal but with greater results, more ease and you'll be less likely to create more neurosis. Your goal will be more in line with good qualities like love, creativity and expansion.

Or maybe you discover something that excites you far, far more. 

 

 

[Salomon Tolosa]

One thing has to do with thinking about yourself, another thinking about your world. This means that if you want to develope your habilities and become a creator, explorer and life striker, it could be all about yourself (ego), but the part without ego about you means spending time and energy on gaining values and getting shit done; because ego means that the whole world is about you : it spins in order to get your fulfillment. The non egoic means a complete different measure on your goals and wishes. So feel free and live true joy, along with the world. Off course you need a life project, a vocation on the world, thats what humanity is all about.

[jakub_friso]

 

5 hours ago, Arman said:

This does not however, mean that all experiences, all desires, all pleasures and all striving are merely the projection of ego contraction.

And how can I discover those? 

How can I see those genuine desires, listen to them and act upon them. 

Because honestly I want to do something but now I'm very confused and careful what I will pursue. 

[Arman]

55 minutes ago, jakub_friso said:

 

And how can I discover those? 

How can I see those genuine desires, listen to them and act upon them. 

Because honestly I want to do something but now I'm very confused and careful what I will pursue. 

I think you'll discover them automatically as you start to get rid of fear and the social conditioning that expects you to do X Y and Z. Just start to pay attention to what excites you and follow those pursuits. Even if you don't know how you can capitalize on them and make them a life goal or a vocation, just explore things that are interesting to you. This requires the ability to feel inside for subtle feelings and the inner voice. That's a natural byproduct of meditation, so keep meditating. If you think nothing excites or interests you, then lower your bar of what exciting means and explore whatever feels best. Sometimes what feels best may only seem like a 1% improvement from sitting on the couch staring at a wall. That's ok, follow and take action on the thing that feels 1% better. That might be reading a book, learning about a new skill, watching a TV show that feels inspiring, drawing, talking to someone, whatever. Over time, doing this increases the momentum and you make larger exciting leaps of self discovery. In my experience, over time these things grow and become more clear as you take little steps. 

You don't have to know immediately what you want to pursue. It is enough to know that you want to know. That's more than a lot of people, and setting your intention strongly on that exploration will have good effects on the outcome. 

Oh yeah, and Leo kind of has an entire course dedicated to this subject. ;)

Edited December 6, 2016 by Arman