shri ramakrishna on ripe versus unripe ego...

[Guest guest]

AUM ganapataye namah

 

We hear all the time that we should give up the ego, to surrender, to

"renounce this'unripe I'," but rarely do we hear how to do this.

 

In order to give up the ego, we must first become aware of it, then we

can give it up. Here is a simple way to do this:

 

1) First become aware of your breathing. Normally, breathing is

automatic when you are not paying attention to it. So...

 

2) Pay attention to where your exahalation turns into inhalation and

where your inhalation turns into exhalation.

 

Suddenly you are not breathing automatically anymore. Breathing has

come under your ego's control. You are thinking: "Now I am exhaling

out, out, out, ... now I must inhale in, in, in ... now I must exhale

out, out, out ..." This thinking and controlling is a manifestation of

your ego.

 

3) Now the hard part: Surrender this control.

 

Keep awareness of your breathing, but let the change from exhalation

to inhalation (and vice versa) come naturally. Don't control it, let

it happen by itself. Instead of coming to the next inhalation and

ordering yourself to inhale, just be aware of the flow and let the

next breath come by itself, naturally. This is harder than it sounds.

When you can do this, you have learned a simple example of

surrendering the ego.

 

4) Now the REALLY hard part: Remove your ego from everything--not just

from breathing, but from your whole body, actions, and life! Empty

out your self so She can fill you up with Her Self! Become a tool for

the Goddess to use! Got it?

 

I know, easier said than done, but we can start with the small things.

First be aware and in control of yourself so that you can surrender

this control. This is the true surrender. How could you hand over the

wheel of a car to another if you don't have it under your control

first? You cannot. If you tried (why someone would be doing this, I

don't know), you would probably seriously hurt yourself and your

unfortunate passenger.

 

This is why the Sanatama Dharma teaches us so many yamas and niyamas:

so that when it comes time to surrender this body to the Divine, it is

a perfectly tuned, aware, and contolled machine for Her to use. How

could we give Her anything less?

 

AUM parashaktiye namah

 

, "adi_shakthi16" <adi_shakthi16>

wrote:

> Distinguishing ego from true self

> Ramakrishna:

> I am not asking you to give up all of the I. You should give up only

> the "unripe I." The "unripe I" makes one feel: "I am the doer. These

> are my wife and children. I am a teacher." Renounce this "unripe I"

> and keep the "ripe I" which will make you feel that you are God's

> servant, His devotee, and that God is the Doer and you are His

> instrument

[Guest guest]

-

 

thank you sivadancer for this gereat explanation on the simple but

effective art of 'breathing' ... myl friend swami vittala taught me a

unique way of 'breathing' and that is what i am going to 'practice'

for the next 10 days! i will share it with you via eamil after nov

25th/26th... but before undetaking this, i need to foloow a certain

regimen- a strict diet, some asanas and a few other rules... so, let

us see...

 

meanwhile, here is a little joke i want to share with you...

 

three devotees were sitting in a room and arguing amonst

themselves...

 

one said- " my friends! you see, i am the greatest devotee of Devi!!

i do 'puja' to her! i do japa on her divine name! i read devi

bhagvatam, the puranas etc ! i habve all her pictures in my altar!!!

 

the second one said- " oh! that's nothing! i practice all the tantric

rituals! i go to the 'cremation' ground and do 'shava' sadhana' and i

observe all the austeries and penances... i know all the mantras and

do yantra puja as well !

 

the third one said " well learned ones! she is my very breath."

 

thank you for the timely reminder on the art of breathing!!

 

love recognizing love!!!