Being Present by Darren Cockburn

Author:Darren Cockburn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Spirituality/Meditation
Publisher: Inner Traditions/Bear & Company
Published: 2018-03-29T04:00:00+00:00

Feeling superior or inferior to others.

Feelings of fear, anxiety, expectation, regret, guilt or anger.

Shyness and fear of attention from others.

Craving.

Unnecessary thoughts. Mental stories and fantasies.

Suffering because something we identify with is lost or threatened.

Absence of Presence and being lost in thought.

Having perceived ‘problems’ with others.

Unskilful thought, speech or action.

The ego operates within the realm of time and is always concerned with past and future. This is why Presence is the ultimate antidote. The ego will not activate and create suffering whenever we are grounded in the present moment. We should be curious about what, where, when, how and with whom our ego is manifesting. Understanding our own personal ego-based triggers and themes helps with this. We do not need to judge the ego, as this will strengthen it further. We simply observe what it is doing as a friendly and curious witness. This will create awareness, perspective and Presence.

We can find our own personal dramas or worries intensifying in situations that trigger fear or anxiety. The ego is afraid due to our past conditioning and its reaction may be to create thoughts that reinforce its identifications. The ego does this to strengthen itself given the perceived threat from the environment, regardless of whether the threat is real. It is afraid so it tries to make itself larger through thought with personal dramas and worries.

As our practice develops, we become aware of our two selves. The two selves are the ego and the Present-self. Our Present-self can be aware of the ego, but the ego is ignorant of the Present-self. In a similar way, our Present-self can influence the ego by reducing or suspending it, but the ego cannot influence the Present-self. Presence is ultimate and infinite and can only be influenced by itself. Over time, as we let go of our identification with roles, opinions, beliefs, memories, assets, addictions and other identifications, the ego reduces. We can still retain things, but we let go of identifying with them. The space that the ego once occupied with dysfunctional thoughts is replaced with a pure stillness. Ultimately, through full awakening, nothing remains of the ego and everything that remains is you.

This awareness of the two selves can be experienced within and outside of meditation. Meditation provides a good platform and the spaciousness for exploring the two selves as external distractions are kept to a minimum, allowing an inward focus. Every time we are lost in thought, we are experiencing a manifestation of the ego. Common examples include thoughts relating to the hindrances introduced earlier, including sensory desire, ill will, restlessness and worry. When we are aware of these thoughts, we are experiencing Presence being aware of the ego. This is liberating. It helps to gently remind ourself who we truly are, which is the awareness, not the ego. This de-personalises the ego and we connect with the Presence which is observing and holding it. This is analogous to holding an ice cube. The warmth of our hands, which represents Presence, melts the ice cube, which represents the ego.

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