Really? For me the opposite is true. Since it is ego which responds to physical needs then hunger, illness or sleep deprevation make ego more active in me, often to the point of being believable.

kip

[QUOTE=flowupstream;124762]Really? For me the opposite is true. Since it is ego which responds to physical needs then hunger, illness or sleep deprevation make ego more active in me, often to the point of being believable.

kip[/QUOTE]

Yes it is the case for me.  If it isn't the case for you, then you probably aren't prone to hypomania, so at least you can rest assured knowing your brain is firing on all cylinders.  : )  It may or may not be the entire day.  It is similar to being slightly drunk.  Some people say they are punch drunk when they get a shortage of sleep.  Sort of like that but different when you are bipolar.  I think the logical side of the brain gives up out of knowing it is not going to function very well.  So the creative side takes charge.  The words just show up out of the blue without effort, and very good, flowing words.  Since I know my memory is worse now, and since it happens without effort, those words must be coming from the Source I would guess.  So I think creativity is largely just "letting go."

I probably am technically experiencing some slight hypo manic symptoms when this happens.  But maybe that is what mania is.

Interesting perspectives, everyone.

IMO, the ego isn't really the enemy or a bad thing. I find that often there's a tendency in spirituality to want to destroy one's ego, as if it were in the way of personal growth. Sometimes it's as if the ego is seen as the obstacle to being evolved or whatever. Ditto the mind. I tend to disagree, as I think it's just a matter of having a healthy ego. Not trying to lose one's ego or dodge it or hide it away. After all, we can't function without an ego, since it was given to us to do some important functions. So it's not like we can really destroy it,  since that would be destroying an important part of you.

I feel it's about keeping the ego healthy, so it does not run amock.  A healthy ego knows an inner sense of "I am enough." (Good enough, smart enough, etc). It's when it's weak (ie, "I am not enough, not smart enough, good enough, etc") that it causes problems. That's when it rears its head and makes issues.

Hopefully, with a healthy ego, life would feel like less kneejerk reacting to everything, and more about active engagement and responding to life.

My .02.

[QUOTE=eputkonen;123800]No, there is some ego.  If there was no ego (what-so-ever) you would not respond when someone calls out the name that you were given.  A little ego is helpful in just interacting with the world.  The key point is not being fooled by the ego by seeing it for what it is - an illusion or phantasm (even illusions may have a purpose although they are not technically real, per se).  As a side effect, the ego is diminished greatly and becomes a servant.

I find the ego/mind continues to diminish as understanding deepens.

Namaste,

~ Eric Putkonen[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the candid answer Eric. 

re: "The key point is not being fooled by the ego"

How does one come to have the ability not to be fooled?   Is it strictly through something like "grace?"

ciao,
raymond

The light is fundamentally not blocked.  We just don't see or know it.  We might assume we do, but this is our imagination asserting itself.  For the mystic the problem is having a direct gnosis with the light, seeing it distinguished from the carnal body which it animates (it is the light of life in the Gospel of John).  If there is any question of ego it lies with asocial individualism which is the foundation of our present economic system that has sanctified avarice, conspicuous consumption (i.e., status seeking), and thrill seeking.  I think those who are here, are heads above asocial individualism.  How to get in touch with this animative light is the most pressing matter. It is one of life and death.