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Letting Go of Ego

An excerpt from Peter Russell’s
Letting Go of Nothing: Relax Your Mind and Discover the Wonder of Your True Nature

The ego we should let go of is not what psychologists call a “healthy ego,” a sense of self-worth important for full psychological development that helps us form meaningful relationships and cope with the challenges of life, but the self-centered mode of thinking that assumes happiness depends on what we have or do, leading us to use the world for our own ends.

There are, needless to say, times when this approach is important. If our well-being or safety is at risk, it’s completely natural to make our personal welfare a priority. Egoic thinking, as such, is not an enemy. It is an ally, there to help us survive.

The downside arises when this mode of thinking is activated more than necessary. It hijacks our attention, creating discontent when none is needed, triggering emotions we’d be better off without, obsessing over getting what we think will make us happy, solving problems that don’t yet exist and may never come to pass — all of which overshadows our experience of the present moment, veiling the peace and contentment of the natural, unperturbed mind.

Seeing ego as a way of thinking we get caught in — we could call it ego-mind — rather than some thing we need to control or eliminate makes the task of freeing ourselves from its grip much easier. When we notice egoic thoughts arising, we can simply choose not to follow them.

Yet, as most of us can testify, it is seldom that easy.

For a start, the ego-mind can be active so much of the time it seems normal. If you wear rose-tinted spectacles all the time, you forget what the world looks like without them. Similarly with the ego-mind: its view of reality can easily become the “truth.” If, for example, you hold a certain mindset about your national leader, it can become the reality through which you interpret his or her actions, making it very challenging for someone to make you change your mind.

In addition, egoic thinking wants to be taken seriously. It has a job to do: keeping us safe. If our well-being is truly at stake, it needs us to follow its planned course of action. The fact that the same response can be triggered by some imagined threat is irrelevant. Once triggered, it is up and running, demanding we follow its bidding.

This insistence can be a clue to spotting when we are caught in egoic thinking. When the voice in your head seems particularly strong, persuading you of the right thing to do and not wanting to hear alternatives, it might be time to pause and consider whether ego-mind might be in full swing. Step back for a moment, notice what the voice is saying, and consider how true that is.

Another way of recognizing egoic thinking is the background mental tension that can accompany it. Much of the time, this tension is so faint we don’t notice it. But we may occasionally sense it as a slight tightening or constriction in the mind. It comes from two sources. First, focusing our attention on some idea or issue that seems important can take a small unconscious effort, resulting in a slight mental tension. Second, most of our egoic thoughts have an element of discontent, contributing further to the tension.

This faint mental tension is the hallmark of the ego. So when you notice it, allow your attention to relax, and explore whether you might be caught in some egoic pattern of thought. And if so, inquire whether there might be another way of seeing things.

But be careful: ego-mind is not open to seeing things differently. It thinks it knows what is right and cannot see beyond its own mindset to a radically different point of view. We must get help from a different quarter, from the part of us that remains untouched by the voice of the ego. We need to let in the wisdom of the untainted mind.

Peter Russell, author of Letting Go of Nothing and From Science to God, earned degrees in theoretical physics, psychology, and computer science at the University of Cambridge in England, where he studied for a time with Stephen Hawking. He studied meditation and Eastern philosophy in India and later conducted research into the neurophysiology of meditation. He coined the term global brain with his 1980s bestseller of the same name (100,000 copies sold), in which he predicted the internet and the impact it would have on humanity. He lives in Northern California. Connect with Peter at www.PeterRussell.com.

Excerpted from the book Letting Go of Nothing. Copyright © 2021 by Peter Russell. Reprinted with permission from New World Library.

I recently spent a couple of week's at a friend's country house, and the most amazing thing happened while I was there. She has a dog, Mandy, that she dearly loves. One day as we were working in the yard, we heard a loud yelp, and when we turned to look, we saw her dog flying through the air - it had been hit by a passing car! We ran to her side, as did her neighbor. (Her neighbor is an older gentleman with a very spiritual sort of air about him.) When we got to her dog, she appeared to be dead; she wasn't breathing or moving at all. The neighbor took charge and laid his hands over Mandy, and we knew he was praying or doing some spiritual healing or something. Then all of a sudden, the neighbor sort of jolted, and then Mandy snapped back to life! In an instant she began to breathe again, and then she got up and began to sort of slowly move around. Within a couple of minutes, she was acting like nothing had ever happened. It was just incredible! Do you think this man brought her back to life? If so, is it possible to do this with people? We were speechless, and I got the feeling that we weren't supposed to ask the neighbor what had happened - that we had witnessed some sort of miracle.

- Kelly

Dreamchaser:

When I read your question, my mind instantly went to the movie Michael, starring John Travolta as the Archangel Michael. In that film, Michael brought a dog that had been hit by a truck back to life.

I don't know why you felt you weren't supposed to ask this neighbor what had happened - I bet he would have gladly given you his viewpoint. You absolutely should have asked him! If you are ever in the presence of a miracle again, absolutely and positively ask what just happened.

That is why God/ Universe/ Spirit/ whatever name you prefer gave you a mouth and a way to communicate. You were just so in awe of this apparent miracle that you were caught up in reverence of the situation. Don't ever let that stop you from finding out what happened if there is some way you can.

I wasn't there, I didn't talk to the man, and I don't know what he felt or did. I imagine he did a form of energy healing like Reiki, though most likely, even he doesn't know exactly what he's doing or what to call it.

I also suspect the dog wasn't dead yet - she was just on her way. All of the loving energy from the people around her combined with the healing energy of this man is what brought the dog back.

Remember too that animals have a way of healing themselves from the most horrific accidents, for they don't have human logic and limiting beliefs to interfere with their bodies' natural healing abilities.

I often refer to the Christian Bible and Jesus Christ as an example of how I should try to walk through life. When you asked if humans can be brought back, my mind instantly flashed to the story of Jesus bringing Lazarus back to life, and I thought Yes, of course people can be brought back from the dead!

Modern medicine is in many ways miraculous. I hear stories of doctors bringing people back every single day. Whether it's by using the old ways such as laying on of hands, or whether it's by using new ways that involve modern technology, we know it's possible to bring people back.

Please also remember that people will not come back to life if they aren't meant to come back. God will not allow the Universe to fill with Zombies like those in Night of the Living Dead. If it's our time, it's our time, period. Anything else would be completely unnatural and therefore not allowed.

Remember, the Universe operates under a whole bunch of natural laws. I personally don't believe that ANYONE has the ability to reanimate someone who isn't meant to be here.

If you want to learn how to heal, find a reputable Reiki teacher offering classes in your area. Reiki is what I use, and it's VERY effective. It's also easy to learn and to do. (You know that I like THAT aspect of it!)

I wish you lots of healing miracles.

*****

Astrea:

People and animals can be stunned by a blow or other trauma, and they may appear to be dead for a while only to later regain consciousness. Once they're really dead, however, they can't be brought back to life.

Your friend's neighbor was probably praying in his own way when Mandy woke up, and that's what caused him to jolt the way he did. Since her spirit never left her body, she's the same as she was before in terms of her personality.

Once our spirits separate from our bodies (and not by conscious choice, as in meditation or astral travel) we usually stay that way, at least until we get a new body in a new incarnation.

For a long time in the Voodoo tradition, it was thought that Zombies were the spirits of the dead back in their own bodies, but here is what really happens:

A Voodoo priest delivers some paralyzing agent to his victim through food, drink or smoke. (These victims are people the priest believes have wronged him in some major way.)

The victim appears to be dead in that there is no discernible breath, heartbeat or other vital signs. The victim is then buried but not embalmed, and then hours or days later, that person awakens buried alive because they were never really dead to begin with.

The Voodoo priest digs the victim up, and the effects of the trauma and the drugs have done just enough brain damage to render him pretty helpless but still able to follow instructions. As the drug damages the part of the brain that discerns right from wrong, the victim is more willing to do whatever evil deed the Voodoo priest wants done.

In Japan, many people who eat the fugu fish die every year, but most who experience ill effects are stuck in a catatonic state for days or even months and then emerge well again. Not so for the Zombie - the brain and other vital organs are so badly damaged by the drugs that Zombies rarely live for more than five years after their death.

Often oxygen deprivation gets them before they're dug up and they die in the coffin anyway. Most Zombies are used as house servants and cooks, not as murderers - at least, that's what I've HEARD.

I cruised the Caribbean as a dancer on a cruise ship for a while. We docked in Haiti exactly ONCE in 1980, and then found somewhere else to go! Haiti was so wild then that just being there for one day was enough to scare me into not wanting to go back. (This was more due to political instability than Voodoo.)

Of course, I was so fascinated with Voodoo that I jumped at the first invitation experience something. I was shown a Zombie, and he was pretty scary. I don't know whether he died or not, but SOMETHING unlucky had happened to that man!

Going down to the river with hundreds of people all dressed in white was really something. There was only one Zombie in the group, and he kept everyone's glass full. I was careful not to eat or drink anything at that party!

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.