Death of the Ego Now!

Years ago, in 1991, I read a short but powerful book by Krishnamurti. It’s a book I visit at least once a year. When I read these lines, I wrote them down in my journal and commented on them. Here’s his quote and my response:

“Only the deep, constant demand of the brain for the physical security of the organism is inherent. Symbols are a device of the brain to protect the psyche; this is the whole process of thought. The ‘me’ is a symbol, not an actuality. Having created the symbol of the ‘me’, thought identifies itself with its conclusion, with the formula, and then defends it: all misery and sorrow come from this.”

Here’s what I wrote in response to this quote:

I wrote the above entry and felt fear. The horror of realizing that all thought is the attempt of the brain to protect itself psychologically and to perpetuate the ego! I realized that it is this that must die. This fear is a lack of courage to do it. It prevents me from seeing the whole truth of it, because the seeing would be the dying. I’m afraid of ending, or becoming insane. I’m afraid of dying. The doctrine of the resurrection teaches that there is nothing permanent in man. When I die, I die altogether! Nothing lingers. Resurrection means complete mercy for something completely dead. I contain nothing ‘immortal’. No infinite soul.

I still hold this to be profoundly true. And it necessarily must affect all that I am and do. I perceive that almost all of our efforts, personal and religious, are to avoid death. This must end!

The fine art photograph is the creation of my friend Jorgen Klausen.