At last, yes this is the final reading from John McAfee’s book, “The Secret of the Yamas.” Here is a quote from this chapter: ” If we observe ourselves in our relationships – through our actions, thoughts and feelings as they are happening-then we will catch a glimpse of the ego. In that light of awareness the ego will vanish, and in its place a profound silence will blossom. In that silence is all beauty. It is infinite, unknowable and not separate from ourselves. It is immortality.”
Thanks for being a part of listening to my readings and I hope they have provided some useful food for thought and the quieting of mental chatter. I do hope you may continue to stop by here on a regular basis as a subscriber. I also look forward to your comments about your experiences and ideas. Namaskaram
omlinkblog 
In the reading John McAfee in his book, “The secret of the Yamas”, is discussing the topic of the ego. It elaborates on how we do not just separate things in the “I” but we also divide our experiences as well. If we view ourselves in our relationships we then can see the ego. We divide act and actor, thought and thinker, perceiver and object of the perception, etc… Thinker cannot be separated from the thought. “without one, the other cannot exist”. The process of thinking is the only reality. But we momentarily lose ourselves when we face something like profound beauty or danger. This happens because we are left to interpret/perceive the situation and act upon it. This is a really interesting concept that McAfee brings up. If it is something like a fight or flight situation or just something that requires immediate reaction thinking is no longer in the equation. This is our natural self just reacting. It is also interesting that thought and Ego have a close relationship. If many of our thoughts come from past experiences then this is when the ego comes in. Our thoughts glorify past experiences or can instill a feeling of anxiety when presented by new experiences that resemble past experiences where we were afraid, sad, angry etc… and so our thoughts/ego exist not only in the past but can manifest themselves it seems in the future as well.
This is why I find value in the Isha Kriya practice. I tend to be a bit of an over thinker and find that the IK helps to clear my mind of some worries. I try to practice 4-5 times a week if I can and mostly at night and before bed. There are days where I will admit I struggle with the IK but I push on regardless and am always happy with the outcome.
matthew alioto
wednesday 8:30 am class
Well stated, keep your IK practice going for ongoing benefits, Namaste
This was a reading of the final chapter from The Secrets of the Yamas. The final chapter talks about the ego and how the ego is a sense of “I”. By separating ourselves from the world, we are creating this concept of the “I”. The reading goes into detail about the ego and the different elements it possesses in our society, such as thought and the thinker. Without thought, there would not be a thinker, and vice versa; there cannot be one without the other. When we experience something, we believe to be beautiful, our sense of “I” disappears for a short period of time and we are no longer concerned with our ego or ourselves, rather we are concerned with the beauty of what we are experiencing.
I enjoyed listening to the readings from The Secret of the Yamas, it was very interesting learning about all of the different Yamas and how each of them is unique. Learning about the ego in this chapter was very interesting, it gave me a more in depth understanding of what the ego actually is. I have never heard of the ego referred to as a sense of “I”, but hearing it be described as this makes a lot of sense. I liked the part about how our ego disappears when we are experiencing something beautiful because this made a lot of sense to me when I heard it. It’s always an amazing feeling to experience something so beautiful that all other things don’t matter to you in that small moment in time; for that quick moment, you are no longer thinking of yourself or the good or bad things that may be going on in your life.
I have enjoyed continuing with my IK practice throughout the semester. I still try and do the IK at least once a day, if not I always do it at least four times a week. I have noticed that sitting to do the IK has gotten easier and easier throughout the semester; I no longer have to force myself to do it, rather I often find myself looking forward to it. It has really been a great way to relax myself after a long and stressful day or get me started and energized to take on the day.
-Ashley Pagan
Well stated and so happy you got the secret of the IK in your life! Namaste
I think of the ego as a curtain that blocks the soul from knowing its authentic self. It shields us from the knowledge that we are all connected as one. A practical way that can help anyone to differentiate the ego from the soul is to distinguish thoughts of the mind from feelings from the heart. If you pay attention, the ego typically reveals itself after the authentic self. For example, you may think of a dream that you want to achieve and instantly feel positive emotions, followed by an onslaught of thoughts that tell you why you can’t pursue your dreams. The authentic self is like a silent whisper of truth. If you listen closely you can tap into this authentic self, by observing your feelings before your rational thoughts kick in.
Another way the ego manifests itself is by having negative thoughts towards another person. When there is no ego, everyone and everything is pure love. You feel love for strangers, enemies, and friends. The ego reduces this expansive love through judgment and stigmatization. I like to think of the ego as a grey cloud that blocks the sun from shining through.
The thinker creates distance from itself and from everything else in this world. The key is to detach from the thoughts and observe them. In this silence, we can tap into the present space that is without the ego. This space encompasses a sense of peace and joy, and an awareness of a higher intelligence. Some of my favorite things to do that I believe silence the ego are to get into nature, do random acts of kindness, love others, listen to music, dance, get in your body, exercise, eat healthy, and numerous other activities.
I have been practicing the Isha Kriya twice a day, for roughly five days per week. I have noticed that since I began the practice, my ability to focus has strengthened tremendously. I have this newfound discipline and groundedness in my relationship with my thoughts. I feel as though my thoughts do not control my behavior anymore. I would not be able to say the same prior to practicing the Isha Kriya. I plan on continuing to do the Isha Kriya, even when class ends for the semester. Namaste.
You have found the best secret to living well! So proud and happy for you! Namaste
In this chapter ego is discussed. It discusses ego as experiences we have and the opposites in them, action and actor being one of the examples, this showing that there’s always 2 halves to everything that we do.
My IK now comes a lot easier than it did at the beginning of the year, when I first started it was annoying to force myself to be still and empty my head, now doing it is relaxing and it’s something I look forward to doing in my day. It gives me a chance to destress from the day.
OM
This chapter talks a lot about ego, which reminded me of the three Interfaith Amigos in the video before. They talked a lot about how faith is removal of the ego from your person. The book reframes this notion in acting in the present, that true removal of the ego means living truthfully in the present. The chapter says that there is no ego without thought, and that removing the activity of “thinking” from being helps us let go of the ego. Thinking takes ourselves out of the universe, and thoughts divide ourselves into a “thinker” identity, which doesn’t really mean anything in action.
This chapter was really interesting to me due to it’s connection between the thought and the ego. I’ve mentioned this before, but I often think way too much. I take pride in this as I feel it does make me a creative and attentive person, but oftentimes takes me out of living in the present. I get lost in my own worlds or develop narratives that aren’t exactly truthful to the present moment. Removal of thinking is really difficult to me but it’s something I really want to work more on.
Recently, I’ve truly realized how the impact that this removed thinking and hiding away in the identity of the thinker is detrimental to my social interactions. I think that focussing on being more present is a really easy and tangible way to get out of my head. I realized that by thinking of my surroundings and reminding myself of where I physically, presently am can really help. Appreciating the beauty around you and people around you, reminding you that you are breathing, standing where you are standing, and doing what you are doing can easily help you get out of your head!
Congrats on your new way of being present! Namaste
This response in mainly questions that I am not expecting to get answers from. “There is no ego without thought”. In a sense we created this ego and continue to feed it with thoughts and environment. I question is there really a way to find mental immortality just by letting go of the ego? I find this sensation through meditation but again as the practice ends there’s still a pool of thoughts coming back a few hours after. Does this ego go away through time and dedication to yoga? Will there ever be a possibility of cleansing everyone from their ego?
Because of my senior show I have pushed back on these assignments and doing my isha kryia. I literally had no time to do anything but focus on the show (it was chaos, but turned out great so I guess the stress was worth it). Now that we are on break I am able to “reset” and focus on everything else again. doing the isha kriya at home is so much better because of the comfortable environment. I’ve also been teaching my mother this practice so we’ve been doing it together, leaving us time to bond and converse at the end.
This reading talks about the comparisons between the thought and the thinker, the act and the actor, the perceiver and what is perceived, and lastly the chooser and the choice. All of these come together to form the ego. In the reading it was said that the ego can only exist in the past, and can project itself into the future, but does not exist in the present moment, but also needs thought and other elements to exist. I liked how it was stated that if you really think there is rarely any times where we aren’t thinking about anything. As funny as this sounds it’s very true. Throughout all day-to-day activates our minds are running wild, and if that’s the case then so are our egos. All of the previous chapters pointed towards the ego and for good reason, we need to always be aware and keep it in check.
I’ve noticed that since I started my IK everything feels more natural. I remember when I first started doing my practices I felt very awkward and strange. This was a new concept to me and I was stepping outside of my comfort zone. I have learned to adapt and put my ego aside to open up. I also do my finger holds when I have stressful or nervous situations, which I’ve noticed has really helped me. All in all I’m extremely pleased with my progress and how much yoga has helped him.
This chapter talks of the many different ideas in the book, and how they center around the ego. McAfee views the best way to combat and let go of the ego as living in the present. McAfee states that the ego manifests due to excessive thought, and if one is living in the present, then they won’t be overthinking, and will therefore be able to control the ego. If we spend too much time thinking, we cannot connect to the universe, and cannot achieve spiritual enlightenment.
As someone who is always in his own head, I related to this chapter, and recurring sentiment, a lot. I tend to constantly worry about what other may or may not be thinking. I anxiously await the days of tests, or certain social interactions that I know I will have. I fear what I will do after college constantly. I also think back to my past, and I wonder if mistakes that I made have permanently affected my life for the worse. I also miss old friends, and people that I haven’t seen in a while, and wish I could retain the friendships that I lost.
I have noticed through the years in my life, the negative impact that this kind of thinking has on me. It makes me act differently than I normally would in social situations, and often makes me feel even more anxious afterward as a result, forcing the cycle to continue. I put a lot of effort into letting go of these worries, as well as avoiding getting stuck on the past or the future, because I know it’s the only way that I’ll be able to be my best self.
I have practiced my Isha Kriya four times again this week. I think that the differences in how I feel have been gradual, and not instantaneously noticeable, as I have been slowly affected by the Isha Kriya over time. Overall though, I do feel different than I felt at the beginning of the semester. I notice it the most in the sense that I feel more energized, and have been sleeping better than I normally do. When I am in stressful situations, I tend to not lose my patience as quickly either, but I’m sure that’s also a mix of other things as well as the Isha Kriya.
I find that it is very difficult for me to try and clear my mind. I’ve always struggled with this issues. I also have suffered from migraines my whole life, multiple times a week. I’ve always attributed to stress, as I have found that during stressful times my migraines worsen and become more frequent. I can’t state this as a fact but I have noticed a significant decline in the frequency of migraines since I have began doing Yoga and the IK. I don’t know if its the meditation of the IK that has helped or the the actual practice of yoga, or perhaps a combination of both but I am know down to a migraine maybe 3-4 times a month. This is a huge improvement for me as it has dramatically changed my life.
It still is difficult for me to sit and clear my mind but throughout this semester I have tried to focus on my breathing. Following the in breath and out breath. This practice has helped me turn my mind off in preparation for my IK.
Boris Yanez
The last chapter of John McAfee’s book The secrets of the Yamas is truly beautiful. So beautiful that I want to order myself the book! (It is also very cheap!) Any who, I have learned so much about the ego! I put little thought into that word and really just see it as my view of myself but there is so much to go with that!
The ego separates ourselves from the world we experience. Thought vs. thinker. I find it so interesting making sense out of the fact that the thinker can not be separated from the thought. Having control is very important when it comes to thinking but that moment where we stop for however long once we find that “profound beauty or danger” we forget ourselves. After this happens, the ego resurfaces and thought continue. Thoughts can come from our past memories, or planning ahead for our future but thoughts can not continue in the “now moment.” This fact hit me so strong! I have experience the feeling of being in the moment but never took into consideration that my mind actually does stop thinking, and if it does arise it is only about the past or the future. Practicing Isha Kriya bring me to this state where I use let the words pour out of my mouth “I am not the body, I am not even the mind.” Vibrations take our and muscle memory begins. My body takes over, but my mind begins to be in this “now” state of mind and instead of being very self aware, I almost forget I am there. That science state is so pure, so fascinating, and so relaxing, that afterwards I feel such a great euphoria, and almost a bit sleepy. I did very much enjoy this video, Thank you for reading!
-Sarah Dailey Monday 6:30pm class
This is not the correct chapter for this assignment please return to the email and find the proper post to read and leave your essay for credit
This chapter was very dense and throws a lot at the reader, or listener, at once. It talks about the separation of the self from the world through the ego, ‘the thinker’, who’s constant need for thought and attention promotes disunity between the self and the world. The ego can only live in the past and use thought to control its future by maintaining one’s attention span in the present. Thus through meditation/IK/stillness of thought, we can promote unity of the self and the world by stifling the ego, which I find peculiar, as the phrase “I am not the body, I am not even the mind” quite literally promotes disunity of our immediate realities. We exchange attachments from small vesicles to a large all-encompassing world, which has no problems or agency. Even the alarming concerns of our little planet which we are cannibalizing are subjective to our people. Without agency or perspective, there is peace. From a basis of peace, we can re-engage our agency and use our bodies and minds efficiently to solve the stressors that have since been alleviated or put into perspective below and above the threshold of consciousness.
I found this very relevant to my Chinese Cinema and History class, which is currently studying the ethical code of Kung Fu figures like Bruce Lee’s on-screen characters, who prescribe to the Three Teachings, signifying: dissociation from life’s suffering, reunification with nature, and familial order. The first two, Buddhism and Daoism, are both very linked to this chapter of the Yamas, not only in that the former was built out of Hindu practices like the Isha Kriya, but also through the concepts of separating ourselves from suffering and reconnecting the divide between self and the world.
This was not the correct assignment do match the title and date for proper credit. You will be assigned this later in the semester so keep it for yourself and you may find if you allow your mat work and Journal work to marinate upon you,in the finale you may want to edit this piece later.
The next video The Secret of Yamas, goes more into detail of the concept of separating your thoughts and influences whereas the first video was more instructional. This video talks about how while separating the components of the influences on a person’s thought process from their reactions, you cannot fully separate thoughts and actions from one another because they coincide.
This video talks about how these practices are to help you step out of an overwhelming moment and see another perspective. These practices are to make people aware that there are other realities or perspectives available and not only in the overwhelming moment you are in. If you can compartmentalize your thoughts, experiences, environmental influences, morals, and everything else that affects your thinking process, you can think clearer.
Along with the health benefits, this practice ultimately is supposed to put your mind in a more relaxed state. Focusing on only your words and breathing pattern forces you to momentarily forget everything else. It helps you live in the moment, which can be especially beneficial to someone experiencing emotional distress.
This was not the correct assignment and these are audio files not video. Please always match the date to the correct title,when you submit the correct one you will get credit.
According to the Final Chapter of the Yamas, its the Ego. The ego is considered as being a fragment of thought that it’s in the past or future but never present/now. It separates itself with “I” and experiences. Basically, it’s division. It creates a chooser and choice, and leads to an actor or thinker. But, in this case the thinker can’t be separated from the thought, because our egos wouldn’t work.
Among experiences we create those ourselves. That’s why experience exist because we’re in control of it. But, the occurrence of change is the actor. The thinker or actor are in distance. This makes distance becoming the movement of life, which eventually creates awareness. As a result, this awareness is the silence of beauty which is unknown not separate, and this is called immorality. My experience listening to the audio file was very uplifted by the choice of words being used becuase it let’s me know to know let my ego get in the way of my success and strive to be y ultimate best.
Therefore, this audio file taught me to never let your ego get the best of you, but to always remain true to yourself. It reminds me of my sprinkleofskye’s that I do in regards to uplift my friends. Plus, to encourage them as well with my influential words that either I’ve known through experience or daily members teaching me or even through varies of friends giving life advice. We can grow and learn from each other and that’s the wonderful part of life is growing and proving your downfalls wrong.
Namaste
This chapter continues on some concepts in the previous entry of Aug. 16th but further expands into the ego and how it obscures one from achieving a truer knowledge of self. By being able to separate the “I” of the self one can perceive their relationships through a clearer metaphorical lens. These ideas are expanded upon as the Thinker and Thought and there interwoven nature, which reminded me of the Taoist concepts of Wu Wei, being first; an attitude of genuine non-action, motivated by a lack of desire to participate in human affairs” and second, “technique by means which the one who practices it may gain enhanced control of human affairs.”
This is related to the theme of holistic oneness or innate connectivity with all of mother nature that has been expressed often throughout our readings. To realize the connection we hold with everything is to realize the wholeness of one’s self. To do this, we have to first separate ourselves from the ego, from our negative perceptions and biases and fully engage in a truer form of understanding.
My Ik practice is going great! I have really found it useful as I progress into not having an ADHD medication I had relied on for years. I am still very tired but managed to practice once a day every day this week and the last for my IK.
Good essay and good news about your IK practice OM
If I understand this final chapter correctly, John McAfee is saying that ego comes from thought. He said the ego cannot exist in the now; which is the only time ego will vanish. Is he suggesting we empty our minds of thought? Is that the basis of how we should exist? Isn’t thought and thinking crucial to self-examination? While I agree that we miss moments of pure joy and beauty because we are caught up with our own thoughts; but is it sustainable to be empty of thought to evade our ego? Is there nothing redeeming from our egos? Could there be a healthy ego within ourselves?
Ego can mean one’s sense of self-worth. I think that can be important. Self-worth and self-esteem can inspire confidence and satisfaction. We must be careful not to allow it to cross the lines to self-conceit and vanity; but self-respect can be the first steps to knowing how to respect others.
I hope the intent of John McAfee for writing the Secrets of the Yamas was from a good place. I should like to believe he was sharing his thoughts for our well-being. My only wish was that perhaps he could have taken a positive tone rather than one that feels condemning.
I think self-reflection is part of the yoga philosophy. I can’t imagine it to exist without ego. I think we can all achieve the path of enlightenment if we choose to seek it. And on this path we bring along our own gifts that are unique to us that we can share with others. I believe we can all be as one and still be individuals.
I agree with you and the key is to find balance with all matters. Yoga translates to include balancing our opposing tendencies. When we practice and find inner stillness it is in this zone that we are at peace. In this zone this still nature allows us to clear the decks and to start fresh. This fresh palette is the springboard to our most authentic and creative selves. Of course we need all of our dimensions to exist to to understand how they each factor into our reality is most helpful. Namaste
I don’t understand this chapter as much but what I think it means is that many of us have egos we other think a lot and we always care about perception. We all have thoughts we have to control. We sometimes forget ourselves and just act at the moment. There is no ego without thought. The thought process is silence and it’s true because we sometimes focus on one thing and we forget about the world.
wed 8:30
Again not an essay, by reviewing the subject, adding alternative resources would aid in your clarity about the subject.
The final chapter ties in the past week’s readings about the Yamas, re emphasizing major points like how we should be addressing the Ego, our desire to categorize, and our reliance on the past to inform our future (which causes us to leave the present neglected.) It is important to understand our own desires/fears/envies but equally important to separate from our minds and examine the world as a whole, untethered.
From a personal perspective, this reading as a whole helped me to analyze myself and act accordingly with a more aware and informed view. For example, I recognize my attachment as coming from a place of fear for the unknown, I recognize jealousy in myself when I see stability in other’s lives (whether this stability shows itself in a career, in a level of confidence, etc.) and I see an constant desire to be doing, never allowing myself time to rest for fear of laziness or missed opportunity. All of these tendencies are linked with the bittersweetness of graduating, and reflecting on my time as a student. As someone that doesn’t align with a religion, I feel more at ease as I am increasingly more comfortable examining myself uncritically, and allowing pure observation of the moment clarify my interpretations.
I am also interested in the way I draw from my past to make decisions about my future. This is something I need to let go of, a work in progress! I found this really interesting article about our increasing reliance on taking photos in order to make memories last. What happens when we lose those photos? If our time in those moments was more about saving stills for the future, our present was entirely neglected and the distorted or lack of memories will certainly show for that. Makes you think! https://www.psypost.org/2019/01/our-obsession-with-taking-photos-is-changing-how-we-remember-the-past-52924
Well supported and written essay OM
This last part of the book is on the inner self or the “ego”. We utilize the “I” as a different way to exist inside the world. By doing this we keep up a measure of picking and control among us and others. In any case, the way toward believing is fundamental for both idea and decision. It’s anything but an uneven segment and the comprehension of the sense of self is fundamental for the manner by which we take part in this life. We need to go to a point where the I, turns out to be less basic in our encounters, where genuine excellence can bloom. It is genuinely hard to just experience the experience and not the I, this is on the grounds that the self image is always reemerging. To be quiet is to relinquish the self image for a measure of time. The sense of right and wrong can’t exist in the now; we are very occupied of where we are in of our lives.
After listening to the audio I understood that depending on our egos we perceive experiences differently. I never knew that the ego could be in the past and future not in the present. Ego has an interesting way of working because it has a way to expose the things we have even if we don’t want to confess that to ourselves. An example how ego has controlled someone is social media, people nowadays are egoistic and you can tell by the pictures they post online. Egoistic people post pictures of their expensive clothes, trips they’ve taken, the mansions they live in and etc.
Namaste
The final reading gets into how the ego separates us from the world it also divides our experience into fragments. The fragments need each other to exist and the process of thinking is the reality. There is no ego without thought, so when you think without creating as much distance from the object, you get closer to the present moment. The ego is a fragment of thought, so it exists in the past and projects itself into the future. If you stop your thoughts through yoga or meditation, you are silencing your ego, and in a way becoming closer to immortality.
I think this is a really good culmination of the readings to this point and it breaks down where the ego lives and how it communicates. This reading gives me a battle plan to defeat the ego by learning how to listen for it and then remind myself that it is a voice from the past that has been conditioned by society and my upbringing, not an actual representation of my intentions.
Namaste
The final chapter of McAfee’s book concerns the ego. As discussed in the previous chapter, the ego is the root of most of our internal conflicts as humans. The ego exists because we will it to be so. It is created through our thoughts and reactions to experiences and situations. We can briefly escape it when encountered with moments of great beauty or danger. However, those moments are fleeting and we soon return to our process of thinking and creating our egos.
I think believing that not thinking or perceiving situations in order to be rid of your ego isn’t realistic in the world we live in. Each of our individual lenses through which we see the world are what makes collaboration and culture so abundant. However, I do believe that learning to see beyond your ego is helpful in cultivating positive relationships.
Namaste
The last chapter of John McAfee’s book The secrets of the Yamas is truly beautiful. So beautiful that I want to order myself the book! (It is also very cheap!) Any who, I have learned so much about the ego! I put little thought into that word and really just see it as my view of myself but there is so much to go with that!
The ego separates ourselves from the world we experience. Thought vs. thinker. I find it so interesting making sense out of the fact that the thinker can not be separated from the thought. Having control is very important when it comes to thinking but that moment where we stop for however long once we find that “profound beauty or danger” we forget ourselves. After this happens, the ego resurfaces and thought continue. Thoughts can come from our past memories, or planning ahead for our future but thoughts can not continue in the “now moment.” This fact hit me so strong! I have experience the feeling of being in the moment but never took into consideration that my mind actually does stop thinking, and if it does arise it is only about the past or the future. Practicing Isha Kriya brings me to this state where I let the words pour out of my mouth “I am not the body, I am not even the mind.” Vibrations take our and muscle memory begins. My body takes over, but my mind begins to be in this “now” state of mind and instead of being very self aware, I almost forget I am there. That science state is so pure, so fascinating, and so relaxing, that afterwards I feel such a great euphoria, and almost a bit sleepy. I did very much enjoy this video, Thank you for reading!
-Sarah Dailey Monday 6:30pm class
Yes this is a wonderful little book to have and keep. I recommend all serious students of Yoga review it every year. We can notice the seeds that were first planted and how we may change and grow Year by year. Namaste
In this audio clips, the themes of one’s ego are again explored and identified as a human trait that is detrimental to our self-growth. This audio clip also emphasizes on the present moment living. We are conditioned in our society, that planning for future goals like dreams, careers moves, financial stability are all good but when it takes away from our present moment living, it can do us harm in our selfhood. It was also important to understand the connectivity that happens within all of us; and when we isolate ourselves because we think we are better, smarter, more religious, or anything that may cause the ego rise in superiority, it disconnects us from the relational dynamics we are made to have with one another.
This audio clip goes on to talk about how our past memories and experiences affect our present moment living. Since we project our past experiences in our relationships and our daily encounters, it also gives us the opportunity to live in the moment. I agree with this, and this can be seen in my own encounters with my family, friends, school, and my art, and each time I have a confrontation with them presents an opportunity of change and alternative reactions. Being mindful of this and aware of this creates a balance in our minds and soul
Well stated OM
Kache’ Mumford
Wed. 8:30-11:50
Yoga Journal
August 17,2012 “Can you guess”
This was a passage from “the secret of yamas” focusing on the Ego. The ego is the chooser in the relationship between chooser and choice. There is ego in thought which connects to judgement. Thoughts are going 24/7 therefore there is hardly every a moment when the ego is not working. The ego stops you from being in the now.
The idea that there is no ego without thought was one that I kept going back to. Because ego is supposedly attached to individuality the that of course would determine thought. However I believe the passage may have been talking about judgment of one’s past and plannings for the future. I guess this whole thinking and thought idea just escaped my understanding.
The August 16, 2012 post helped me understand the definition of an ego. Before I was looking at it with a kind of textbook definition, causing the passage to be hard to understand. The passage states that the ego is a sense of I that separates us from the rest of the world. The passage questions if our ego makes us better than others? It also bring in the idea that we are the product of society therefore no one is really separate from the world.
This little book brings up several issues that may pose questions for our beliefs. I recommend that we keep a copy of these journals and return to them one, two, five years down the line to see just how a little seed may have been planted and how we may change and adjust our views in time. Namaste
In this audio clip, the concepts and ideas of human pride, confidence, and ego are explained. In this clip, this concept is identified as a trait that us humans have. It has a negative affect on our process of self growth. The present time is also discussed. It is said in this clip that our society creates a stigma embedded in our society which states that planning for the future goals also has a negative process on our self growth and our selfhood. In discussing the present, this audio clip discusses the way in which our prior experiences and memories affect lives today. Due to the fact that we as human beings base these prior experiences and memories experiences in our daily lives and relationships, we are also given the chance to live in the present. gives us the opportunity to live in the present.
This audio clip has affected me in various ways. I have been deeply affected by living and planning for the future instead of living comfortably and content in the present. I have a habit of planning everything for the future instead of living in the present. This clip and this class as a whole has taught me that having aspirations and dreams are great until affects the way in which we live now in the present. It also has made me reflect on what I need to change about myself and how I can improve my thought process. I also agree with the idea that we carry past experiences with us in our lives. I have struggled in social settings because of this. However, I have learned that this is toxic and that carry something that happened in the past is not healthy. It is better to think positively of others instead of being pessimistic.
This is the beginning of a good essay, just missing a comparative resource.
Majlinda
Honors Yoga Journal #8
10/19/19
August 17, 2012 “Can you Guess…”
In “The Secret of the Yamas”, the topic of the ego is spoken of. We act based upon what we perceive and do the same thing amongst what we think. We momentarily lose ourselves when we face something like profound beauty or danger, this act of perceiving something. This happens and then we truly act upon what we faced or what we are facing. Ego demands continuance and without this continuation, we can get a glimpse of immortality and see the light and understand that Ego is not something we want to have.
I would agree with the claim that thinker and thought are two thoughts that follow each other because one has to think in order to receive a thought. One also must receive a thought in order to think of the thought. In the case of Ego, It is important however to not always upon thinking a thought because it may not be appropriate. It is important to be able to understand that one must act with a central point and make sure to do things correctly without jeopardizing others and self in the process.
One thing I find of importance is how Thought and Ego are directly related. “There is no Ego apart from the thoughts. The thoughts, identification with thought is Ego.” I agree with this quote because as humans we build thoughts in our minds that can hurt or grow ego. For example “Oh, I’m feeling Superior to this person. I wonder why? I know, that not only is it unkind and exhausting to feel this way, but inherently not true. But anyway, I am feeling it. So, I am going to acknowledge the feeling. Then gently practice letting that feeling disappear, and instead send out feeling of love, equanimity, and compassion for this person.” The right thing to do is to understand your Ego and have insights as well understand and cut off any underlying thoughts that lead to thinking that way in the first place.
Namaste
Majlinda Novaj
Honors Yoga Journal #8
10/19/19
August 17, 2012 “Can you Guess…”
In “The Secret of the Yamas”, the topic of the ego is spoken of. We act based upon what we perceive and do the same thing amongst what we think. We momentarily lose ourselves when we face something like profound beauty or danger, this act of perceiving something. This happens and then we truly act upon what we faced or what we are facing. Ego demands continuance and without this continuation, we can get a glimpse of immortality and see the light and understand that Ego is not something we want to have.
I would agree with the claim that thinker and thought are two thoughts that follow each other because one has to think in order to receive a thought. One also must receive a thought in order to think of the thought. In the case of Ego, It is important however to not always upon thinking a thought because it may not be appropriate. It is important to be able to understand that one must act with a central point and make sure to do things correctly without jeopardizing others and self in the process.
One thing I find of importance is how Thought and Ego are directly related. “There is no Ego apart from the thoughts. The thoughts, identification with thought is Ego.” I agree with this quote because as humans we build thoughts in our minds that can hurt or grow ego. For example “Oh, I’m feeling Superior to this person. I wonder why? I know, that not only is it unkind and exhausting to feel this way, but inherently not true. But anyway, I am feeling it. So, I am going to acknowledge the feeling. Then gently practice letting that feeling disappear, and instead send out feeling of love, equanimity, and compassion for this person.” https://stephenpickering.com/2014/02/09/what-is-ego/ The right thing to do is to understand your Ego and have insights as well understand and cut off any underlying thoughts that lead to thinking that way in the first place.
Well written OM
In this audio, we listened to the last chapter of McAfee’s book. In brings together everything else we’ve learned from his book thus far. This particular chapter talks a lot about thought, ego, and self-awareness. Thought is something that is ever-present in our lives, as is ego. McAfee mentioned that ego exists only in the past. I think this is likely true, as we really are only able to reflect on ourselves and our lives as we existed in the past, looking at our actions and relationships in hindsight. Because of thought and the ability to reflect, we are able to take away ego once we are aware of it and how it affects us.
Listening to this particular section is helpful, as it allows us to keep in mind the things that we have learned from it as we go through our lives. It can help us to stay more present and alert, being aware of ourselves and what goes on in our minds, and how to make ourselves better on a day to day basis.
Namaste
This audio file was all about ego. Ego only exists where there is thought, it can’t live without it. When we forget ourselves in the moment, no chooser exists only the experience exists. A persons ego can’t make plans for them, but it can exist in your life at this moment. If we look inside of ourselves and understand where ego exists in us, looking at our actions, thoughts, feelings, we are able to get rid of it there will be profound silence where the ego once lived in us. We need to stay aware of our ego and understand how it affects us.
I personally feel that we can’t get rid of the ego that exists inside all of us. Ego to me is the part of us that seeks approval. If we all existed without ego, I feel like it would be a dull world. If we don’t have opinions and we don’t look at our work and compare it to someone else’s what improvements would we learn to make to our own. I believe that some people do have more ego than other people which can sometimes hurt or harm others around us and that is why I have chosen an article about how to make sure your ego is in check.
There are a few ways to check to make sure that your ego is in check. You first need to think about how much you gossip and what you get from gossiping. Second, do you constantly compare yourself to others and how does it make you feel. Third, do you feel jealous when other people do better? Forth, do you blame others when you don’t succeed? Fifth, are the goals that you set yourself impossible for you in your current situation? If so, do you beat yourself up over it and do you think that is healthy? All of these points help you look inside of yourself and help you understand what is happening inside of you.
Source: https://simplelifestrategies.com/10-signs-your-ego-is-in-control/
-Charlotte Johansen
Well stated and supported by the article included OM
Jordan Reynolds
This chapter was about the ego. We have a fragmented perception of reality. The thinker cannot be separated from the thought as the process of thinking is reality. When we are caught in moments of beauty we momentarily forget ourselves, we shed the ego. These moments are brief and rarely think on their significance. There is no ego without thought. Thought has divided itself and created the thinker. Our thoughts are constantly organizing and creating the past as the ego demands continuance and permanence.
The ego seems to be a pretty demanding part of the human experience. Everything has to revolve around it and its plans. The ego is not real as it focuses on things that have either happened already or have not happened. It does not exist in the present. This makes me think that the ego is simply a distraction from the existence that is true.
I will reference the same article I got for the last post from, https://yogainternational.com/article/view/yoga-and-the-ego . I found it interesting that the ego is something that is almost inescapable. We take it everywhere with us like luggage. Only through unpacking the mind and spirit can we rid ourselves of this baggage.
Well stated and supported OM
David White
Professor Broglin
Yoga
23 March 2020
Journal #6: Ego
In this reading we discuss the ego. The ego revolves around how we separate ourselves from the world, into the being of “I”. The ego is comprised of three elements, the actor, perceiver, and the thinker. Without one the others cannot exist. Actions are divided and executed by the actor. Whatever actions we take in life are proposed, judged, and perpetuated by the ‘actor’. Thought creates the thinker. The process of thinking is the only true reality in the sense that what we think takes shape in our internal and external realities. These thoughts and actions are then perceived by our being and interpreted based on our knowledge. The difference between simply classifying these three components, how they work within the psyche, and truly experiencing a moment in its totality is determined by how we approach a situation. When we are in the moment, only the experience itself exists. The ego resurfaces after the experience and thought resumes, thus, creating a reaction to the said experience. The thinker and actor create a distance between itself and the object, whether it is an experience or a tangible item. If awareness is practiced and we listen when there is silence, which is sometimes a necessary evil, we become more present in the moments we experience. The ego cannot exist in the now. If we observe ourselves through our relationships, a profound silence will blossom. One which will offer reflection and a balance within our being.
I found this reading to be very informative. It gave a lot of context to how we interpret and judge everyday decisions. It also gave clarity to how we distinguish being truly present in a moment compared to evaluating the circumstances of an experience. This is a practice that is essential when doing meditation, yoga, or any other type of mental practice. Once our senses are fixated upon experiencing the moment in its unaltered form, then we can appreciate the sentiment with an unbiased perception. I find that this process is actually difficult to obtain sometimes. As we live in a world, constantly filled with stress and frustration, I believe that completely indulging an event in our life is hard to do. Unless, of course, we take the steps to practice internal harmony and aid ourselves in allowing the present to come as it is.
I discovered a video discussing whether or not thoughts are the source of the Ego. This was a conference held by Eckhart Tolle. He explains how every thought is ultimately an energy form, thus being an entity. These entities are sometimes presented to us when we are children and they stay with us into adulthood. He explains how we project these thoughts unto others because we view others as we view ourselves. This explanation gives further basis as to how our internal reality influences our external reality, vice versa.
This is very well written and supported, only thing is you jumped ahead 8/13/12 was the 7th Assignment, you can always do it for the next Journal, stay well and safe, Namaste
Brian Halliday
The ego is a funny thing. If we aren’t careful, it can destroy our relationships, jobs and our reputations. It is important to be observant of our egos to make sure we are staying grounded. The observance is more than just paying attention to how we are treating others but, also, a double check on how we are treating and perceiving ourselves.
My ego is the thing I try to check in on often. I don’t want it too big to the point where I think I’m better than everyone else but I also don’t want it too small to the point that I am belittling myself. I try to make it confident. That way I am strong enough to know and say what my strengths are but also strong enough to what I need to work on in life.
I’ve been reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in the past week. One part that stuck out to me was in the middle of chapter 5 when Harry goes to London to buy his school supplies. He meets another wizard that is getting ready for his first year at Hogwarts as well. The thing about this new wizard is that he extremely pompous and belittling to other people and immediately Harry got a bad vibe from him and didn’t like him. This is how powerful an ego can be. It can effect a relationship within the first 5 seconds of meeting someone which is why it is so important to have a system of checks and balances when it comes to our egos.
This was not the audio file for the assignment 8/9/12 Listen to the blog…hold onto this and re post when we get there soon, and also fill in the proper one, ☮️
Kristina Gallo
4/10/2020
Yoga Journal Assignment #8
For this journal assignment, we were required to listen to 3 different audio clips. The first clip is titled “The Truth is..” and it is about the final Yama, Satya, or truth. This passage goes over how we should always tell the truth. It begins by asking ourselves that even without any consequences or possible problems that come from telling the truth, would we be brave enough to speak our truths. Because we are humans, we tend to overthink a lot of words or actions. And with that overthinking comes creating our own assumptions about what the truth actually is. As someone who is an avid overthinker, I can say that a lot of the time it is hard for me to go and find out what the truth is. But, like the audio said, a lot of the time not knowing the truth causes unnecessary anxiety about things. The audio also brings up the topic about how a lot of the time we use love as a distraction from the truth. We can say “oh no they love me and that’s why they are doing this”, when in reality, the truth just may be too hard for us to hear, so we use love as a distraction and excuse for certain words or actions. The audio ends with something that was rather eye -opening to me, saying how a lot of the time, when the truth comes out, it has little to no effect or meaning on us, until we lift the veil of self-defense away. That is a very big point that I will try to remember from now on, because once we make our own truth up in our head, our overthinking assumption about what the truth really is, it is hard to see the truth as anything else. We must be calm and true to ourselves, and with that the truth in all situations, even life, will be revealed to us.
The next audio clip we are to listen to is titled “Some tips about the secret…” and this talks about how if we approach the Yamas seriously, we will find the whole yoga within them. I think that that quote alone speaks to the way we handle certain situations in our lives; that if we were to seriously approach and properly deal with the problems that we have in our life, within them we will find a whole range of peace and happiness. This audio brings up an interesting topic on how our life is filled with certain relationships, such as our relationship to money, ourselves, others, etc. and if we don’t properly know how to deal with relationships, everything in our life will slowly start to fail. We are made up through thoughts, experiences, what we are taught by others, and our own ideas. We are built to learn from our experiences, not dwell on them, but if we are stuck not knowing how to move past something, turning to yoga and the Yamas can surely guide us to making peace with the past, and how we can turn those maybe bad experiences into something positive in our life.
The last audio clip for this assignment is titled “Can you guess what the secret of the Yamas is?” The main topic about this audio is how all of the chapters we have read so far are about leading up to the main point, our ego. With our ego, we have broken it into sections, but without one another, all parts could not exist. For example, the thinker and the actor usually keep a space between themselves, but without the thinker, the actor would not even be. These thoughts and actions are just one of the few things that separates us from the deeper truth that is alive within all of us. Through our actions, thoughts, and feelings, we will catch glimpses of our ego appearing, but within that awareness, our ego disappears, because we don’t wanna face that fact that we sometimes believe we are superior to another. Our ego is something that follows us everyday, making its appearance in bits and pieces of our day, until we will realize it, control it and never let it take over again. This of course takes a very long time, and this time being filed with self reflection, yoga, etc. but it is manageable. And when that ego leaves, all that’s left in its place is silence; a peaceful moment that shows that we are capable of becoming peaceful and powerful beings.
Well written OM
Natalie Morrow
The Truth Is…
This chapter was about the Yama of truthfulness, Satya. This is to be real, genuine, and honest. It teaches us that we should always give an accurate and complete account while also actively communicating our thoughts, feelings, and intentions. It is important when we do this to not alter or twist the information we have acquired to suit our own purposes. This is very difficult and may not even be possible. It is so difficult because we each have an internal bias composed of our past experiences, beliefs, etc. The truth is, we are violent and greedy human beings but we use our bias to make excuses and twist ourselves to be positive. We do not see our true selves. Even our relationships are only between our filtered selves and our images of other people. In essence, telling the truth will have very little meaning until we remove our veil of self-deception.
Some Tips About the Secret
This chapter opens with an essential quote: “in the smallest fragment exists the whole”. We will find the root of all of our ignorance by searching for it in just one instance. It can be overwhelming to look at all examples, it is relaxing to know that just one will suffice. This is not to say that it will be easy. All fundamental change takes time and effort. To truly change will mean to find the root of the ego because ego is the root of ignorance. Ego is the sense of individuality. When we believe we are unique, we create our mind which creates possessiveness. What we need to understand is that we are a product of society and we create our society. We are not unique because we all come from the same; we only have individual inclinations. Now we must consider where the ego resides and how it is maintained. This will bring us to how we can achieve fundamental change.
Can You Guess What the Secret for Success with the Yamas Is?
This chapter discusses the core of the book: ego. The chapter proves our ego exists by showing us how we separate our minds from our actions (act and actor, preception and perceiver, choice and chooser, thought and thinker). This ego causes us to live in the future or past; however, when we are caught up in a moment of extreme beauty or danger, we forget ourselves and our ego – we only experience the moment and an amazing silence. Unfortunately, our thought process rarely is silent. This thought process is derived from memories that push us to live in the past and therefore, feed the ego. When we learn to exist in the now, the light of awareness will cause our ego to vanish and we will be left with the profound beauty and silence that we call immortality.
Well done, you have completed your yoga journal for the semester ☮️
In the reading of “The secret of the Yamas”, this video focus on the topic of the ego. Ego is a human characteristic trait that can be negative if you do not how to handle it correctly. Often times, people relates and focuses their ego in the past and future, but not present. Present is the most important stage because you cannot live in the past forever, nor you can predict the future. Therefore, all you need to do is live and focus on your present to have a better past and future.
I know some people can very easily stuck in their past and can fall into a toxic cycle of not letting go of the past. It is good to take a look at your past and don’t make the same mistakes as the past, but it is not necessary to keep comparing yourself to the past because you won’t ever progress unless you look ahead and focus on the present.
OM
“The truth is…”
It is strange how hard it is to find objective experience. As the clip states, so many of our experiences are filtered through our own fears or insecurities. This thought resonated with me as I feel I have battled up hill against this for the majority of my life. I always worry when interacting with people if I am boring them or annoying them, being too dull or not getting to the point quick enough. It is a huge wall keeping me from being present and also being able to fully enjoy my social life. Even with those im generally happy and comfortable with, the same thoughts end up intruding. At minimum its a distraction, at most it genuinely hurts. With this, how can we be truthful when we are not receiving objective reality? I suppose we can try at being honest in reporting our subjective reality and continue to work at tackling our ego, which seperates or alienates us from all around us. Additionally, this comes up frequently in the literature classes i’m taking, as those seeking to capture something realistic in fiction with provide several characters subjective view points, from which the reader can make an attempt at piecing together an actual “reality.”
“Some tips…”
As the root of ignorance was repeatedly referenced I found myself suspecting it was the Ego, as it seems to be a major factor in causing so much of the suffering we have addressed in this course, so I was really satisfied when the clip said that it was,in fact, the ego. I feel like culturally we are expected to carve out identities and firmly make a claim for ourselves as being “unlike the rest” and we are marketed to that way, yet there seems to be alot of problems which arise from that individuality. The clip offers a more communal alternative, stating the ego causes us to desire a separation from others, of course ironically we also naturally want connections to others and historically have always been a communal species, so we exist in some form state between the two. I found a lot of merit in the idea that we inherent so much from our parents in terms of identity. It is somewhat funny to me that we think of ourselves and our beliefs as being so unique yet we adopt so much from our parents, which is often the reason for the sensation that we turn into our parents as we age.
“Can you guess what the secret for success with the yamas is?”
The quote “The process of thinking is the only reality” stuck with me as I found the implications of It very thought provoking. I spend so much of my time completely enwrapped in my thoughts and memories or predictions, to the point of making mundane and simple mistakes in my daily life. I find so frequently that my main reality is that non-stop chattering of the mind. Perhaps a certain part of this is my attention deficit disorder, but I believe many people can get caught up in or even lost in thought, rather than full emersion in events around them. The moments of beauty or danger which for brief moments can silence the ego reminded me of the idea of the Sublime which was used by many Romantic poets like Byron and Wordsworth, the idea is similar in that experiences of extreme beauty found in places like nature, can be a transcendent experience, removing you from your normal reality. The concept that the ego can not exist in “the now” was immensely profound to me. It is an idea which looking at it now feels somewhat intuitive yet I never came to it on my own. It is utterly true. Our ego exists so intrinsically in memory of the past and projections of the future, it only distracts from the present moment, nothing more. I think everyone can relate to the tenancy of the mind to want to rehash the past, I certainly can, so this idea struck an absolute chord with me.
Your honest thoughts are appreciated and demonstrate how much you have ruminated these concepts. You have collected a wealth of information from your past and present studies and my hope for you is to one day have time perhaps when you graduate just to live on your own and be immersed into finding your true self separate and apart from your intellectual self. Maybe something like Habitat for Humanity or Volunteer Americorps. I truly admire the Gentle Soul you are I only see you from your mat and Journaling but I feel you have much more to birth from inside still and can’t wait for you to enjoy your future pursuits, thanks for sharing Yoga this semester…. and do find group chanting sessions called Kirtan when it’s safe to be together again, Krishna Das is someone who leads them all over, there are many more. Your voice is amazing and adds depth to the chanting that is profound so know you will be sought out to Lead in these circles….Namaste 🙏🏽
Throughout this semester, I’ve read each chapter, ‘’The Secrets of the Yamas’’ and finally have finished. The final chapter goes in-depth with the idea of ego by concerning a word that all of us have written or said known as I. Ego means the part of the mind that mediates between the known and the shallow and is held for being questioning and a feeling of personal identity. When we isolate ourselves from the world we are known as an I instead of we. Furthermore, we are demonstrating this concept of I that this excerpt talked about.
This section says that there is no ego without inventing and that separating the activity of “thinking” from supporting us makes the ego. To do this, we have to first isolate ourselves from the ego, of our negative understandings and preferences and ultimately be involved in a more accurate understanding. It is necessary to recognize our desires and fears by ourselves but it is important to separate from our minds and explore the world as a whole instead of as each individual. We should stop dwelling on our future and live in the moment. Rather live in fear and appreciate the things around us to build up the greatest life we can live.
This chapter was interesting to experience the concept of ego and how it pertains to my life and everyone else’s in our world. There are concepts that I’ve learned through the excerpts from Mcafee that we don’t usually think about in our world. Throughout these excerpts, I have seen you must go through each concept or learn each one for you to seek the completion of the enlightenment path. After this semester, I plan to continue the work from learning more, doing more and complete more yoga. Overall, these entries were interesting to learn more about yoga than a couple of moves.
Here are a few titles you may want to add to your reading list when you finish this semester: Autobiography of a Yogi, ( it’s free in my blog) but interesting it’s available in most bookstores for under $15.
The End of Sorrow by Eknath Easwaran, this is the best translation of the Bhagavad Gita in English, after finishing there are 2 more volumes in this series. Then you may want to read other English translations, most great western Thinkers have read and written about the importance of reading this text had upon their critical thinking and success. One more is by Sadhguru Mystic Musings, and Inner Engineering. You may also like to do the online course Inner Engineering through the Isha Foundation website, if any part is a financial burden write to them, use my name and ask for a scholarship. The last part is an in person weekend experience, it’s usually offered in New York a few times a year, but if you are able in the future to travel to a location that Sadhguru will preside over you will have a wonderful magical experience and be in the midst of many like minded people which is so powerful and encouraging. Feel free to write to me anytime for questions, ideas you may have, Best Wishes Brandon 🙏🏽
Truthfulness
This reading talks about truthfulness in our lives. It explains how perception prevents us from being able to tell the complete truth, even if we are actively trying to do so. An example of this was if people in a room laughing who are looking in our direction we might perceive as laughing at us depending on our relationship with them. This perception could seem like the truth to us, but not be the actual truth, so we are not able to tell the complete truth. It also explains that telling the truth to other people means nothing until we remove the veil of self deception, and how all of our relationships are made of our self made images, and the images we construct of other people.
Secret
This reading talks a lot about ignorance. It says that if we seek out the root of ignorance towards one person we can find the root of ignorance towards all people. Oddly enough it also mention that it is possible to have fundamental change in people happen quickly, it doesn’t have to be a slow process. The overall idea of this reading seems to be that we are focused too much on the past saying that “our lives are lived in the future and we are in constant relationship to the past; and the field of life-the present moment-is missed entirely”.
The Ego
This chapter reading is about the ego. It talks about how the thinker cannot be separated from thought, and one cannot exist without the other. But, when we are caught in the moment of profound beauty or danger, we momentarily forget ourselves and the individual “I” disappears, and only the moment exists. It also talks about how our ego demands thought. The ego must exist in the past, or in the future, but cannot exist in the present.
1st paragraph is from “The Truth Is…”
2nd paragraph is from “Some Tips…”
3rd paragraph is from “Can you guess”
OM
Namaste 🙏🏽
Brian Halliday
*** the post from august 17th, “some tips…” doesn’t exist ***
“The Truth is…”
It is not only important to tell the truth to others, but to tell the truth to ourselves. In fact, in order to be honest with our loved ones, we must start by being honest with ourselves. If we are not honest with ourselves, then how do we expect that we will be able to tell the truth to everyone else. We have to be open with ourselves about our feelings and stop hiding behind a self-made emotional wall. Even if it is something that will hurt our feelings, we must make sure we are truthful to ourselves about it. In order to make ourselves better people, we must take this first step. It can only make us stronger in the end. On top of that, if we believe ourselves and are honest with ourselves, then we can be honest with everyone else and in turn, they will truly believe us.
“Can you guess…”
One thing that really stood out to me from this chapter was the idea that our thoughts never stop. It is an interesting idea that one doesn’t really realize until it is mentioned. Kind of like noticing when you are breathing, it’s always happening, but all in the subconscious. Wether they are good thoughts or bad thoughts, they always do something to our ego. Like it was said in the reading “there is no ego without thoughts.” In order to control our egos, wether they are for better or worse, we must take time out of our days to stop thinking and live in the moment and just breath. There is an app called headspace that I like to use from time to time. Fortunately, during this crazy time they partnered with the NY Government and are providing free sessions to everyone. Its an app that allows for short little meditation practices whenever you feel like you need a break from everything. They have options for stress, sleep, anything that you can think of that is hindering you, in 5-10 min sessions. It is great to get your mind off of everything and just breathe and live in the moment.
Have you tried the app called CALM? I sent you an email about the missing blogpost, I may have written the wrong title but the dates are August 15,16, 17, 2012
Emily Lomberg
The Truth is…
This reading is about the Yama, Satya which is about being real, genuine, and honest. Specifically, it describes the importance for truthfulness with ourselves and in our relationships. While it is of course important to be truthful to others, we must also look inward to find your own truth. We use our own perception to alter the truth to protect ourselves. While we assume people are telling us the truth, our perception is based on self made images and the images we make of other people. As an example, he talks about when we see a group of people laughing we assume they are laughing at us, but that is just our perception and most of the time not true. This chapter ends on the powerful statement that without breaking down the walls of self deception, telling the truth to other people has little meaning.
Some tips about the secret…
This chapter goes more into detail of how to live in accordance to the Yamas. The root of each Yama is overcoming our own ignorance, which will free us completely. Like everything in life, to achieve a fundamental change takes time and perseverance but the outcome will be a better, wise, happier, and more spiritual individual. He focuses on being in the present and to be in tune with ourselves, and in doing this one can experience the benefits and freedom of the Yamas. The present is used for dreaming of the future, making us miss the present moment and rooted in ignorance. Planning for the future, instead of living in the moment, is just another way of avoidance based in fear. He also goes into the influence of others on our behavior, and that our actions are reactions from what we have been conditioned to. By being mindful, we can receive the benefits of the five Yamas.
Can you guess…
The final chapter takes about the ego and how it keeps us from living in the present. In moments where we are caught up in profound beauty or danger, we forget ourselves and we are only acting, perceiving, and being. The ego separates us from the present moment, for example into thought and thinker, in moments free from the ego only the experience itself exists. Our thoughts are always planning, judging the past, and fantasizing the future holding us back from experiencing. I have found that this has become a bigger problem for me more recently, that I spend so much time thinking about past experiences and choices that I miss out on things happening right in front of me. In our awareness to observe ourselves and our relationships as they are happening, the ego will vanish.
Namaste 🙏🏽
“The Truth Is…”
This audio clip is about Satya, the truth Yama. Our perception of truth is based the influence our beliefs, upbringing, and reality. We tell ourselves that we are truthful, but we forget that we are capable of jealousy, hatred and envy. John McAfee says that true love can’t exist in the same place where jealousy and possessiveness exist because that means the love is not genuine. People can not experience this true love until the love and accept themselves and their imperfections.
“Some tips about the secret…”
This audio clip is about the importance of ignorance and about how it can change someones perspectives. Ignorance is a part of the ego, but ignorance also defines self growth. Everybody is ignorant in one way or another. We all have different talents, experiences and upbringings. We are shaped by our past. If we learn to focus on the present, people can grow in awareness and self security.
“Can you guess…”
This chapter is all about the ego. McAfee shows is that ego exists by showing us how we separate our thoughts from our actions. The ego causes us to struggle with focusing on the present. Our thought process is made up of memories that lead us to focus on what has happened in the past, this feeds the ego. The ego can only go away if we learn to focus on life in the present.
Namaste 🙏🏽
August 16,2012 “The Truth is…”
Satya, truthfulness. We should always tell the truth, as it keeps us pure. It can alter our perception of a situation or individual, or even our selves. The more you alter a story the more it will come true, yet it can affect yourself in a negative cognition. Using the object of Love as a distraction to our own inner wants. We may be insecure and that is the reason for a boyfriend. We say jealousy is just a form of life but that is the perception of a lie. Jealousy and greed is seen to be motivating in regards to our path and saying we are staying successful yet its just a lie to cover our own true wants that may be less societal rewarding.
August 17, 2012 “Some tips…”
Root of arrogance is suppose to be known to get a better grasp of life. To be focused, to know that there is more than what society shows it out to be. Root of ignorance, can affect anyone even if its not physically seen in seconds, it gradually will show and in the end only affect you the most as its corrupted other things in your life. We need to stay alert and be aware of this, instead of vulnerable to it in the sense of a fear. This awareness of the ego, requires intellectual knowledge. Our past has a lot to do with our future yet, what we absorb from it. What we hold onto. What our parents, teachers, etc lay upon us also can affect the I, as we take in what we have been shown.
August 18, 2012 “Can you guess…”
The EGO. The same way we separate intellectual, we also divide in sense of our lives. Yet they are one, as the sense of the thinker and the thought. The decision making is the choice. We tend to forget our true selves due to a the known societal center that we experience in the current. The thinker and the actor will create a distance, based on the one thought. Ego will demand a continuous unlike I, which will seek through silence. We need to stay aware, so that the ego will vanish and the silence will show– the trueness. Immortality. Being one with all, staying true.
Josette Cappucci
Namaste 🙏🏽
“The Truth Is. . .”
This chapter discusses the final yama, Satya, which translates to real or honest. This yama involves being truthful to others in terms of situations and emotions without transforming the truth for our own personal gain. Our accounts of events can easily be skewed based on our biased perceptions of them, which makes truth-telling difficult. Our perceptions of ourselves are also biased, which further complicates truth-telling. We must first be true to ourselves before we can expect to be truthful to others.
“Some Tips. . .”
This chapter discusses the root of ignorance, which is the ego. The ego is described as the sense of “I” as separate from the rest of the world, our sense of unique individuality. This idea breeds possessiveness, greed, anger, and dishonesty. It is important to realize that we are the products of our societies and communities that have been around much longer than we have. The influence of others creates our beliefs and our personalities, so are we really unique? Our senses of selves are completely reliant on others, so how can we say that we are separate from one another?
“Can You Guess. . .”
This chapter continues on about the ego and how it has created separations between the thinker and the thought, the actor and the action, and the chooser and the choice. In reality, the thinker cannot exist without the thought, and vice versa. This is the same for all of these concepts. There are, however, some moments in which these separations do not exist, and the ego disappears. This is when we are truly in the present moment with no judging or fantasizing about the past or future. These moments are rare, though, since the ego tends to resurface quickly. If we can learn to exist in the now, our awareness of the ego will cause it to slowly dissipate with enough practice.
-Sofia Gandolfo
Namaste 🙏🏽