○Ego [15]

     When you become no-minded and exist as consciousness, there is no division. When you think and express it in words or sentences, division occurs. Good and bad, fast and slow, happy and sad, etc. A state without division is a state without thought. Words are useful for explanation, but they can only take you to the entrance.

    Consciousness continues to exist even without thought, but thought cannot function without consciousness.

    In daily life, we sometimes fantasize. Fantasies are thoughts, creating narratives of expectations, stories about anxiety, etc. The dreams we see in our sleep are also narratives created from thoughts about events experienced during the day, or they may be seeing intuitive things.

    The joy of acquiring something is temporary. The stronger the ego, the more it will never be satisfied, no matter how much it acquires.

    Thinking ability is a tool. Like a mobile phone, it's useful if you can handle it well, but if you depend on it, you'll be swung around and become addicted.

    Addictions such as alcoholism, drug addiction, and gaming addiction occur when memories of past comfort, pleasure, and fun occupy the mind as unconscious thoughts, dominating the person's words and actions. That's why the same actions are repeated over and over again. Unconsciousness is a sudden thought.

    In a money-oriented society, things that please the ego sell. Stimulating things, addictive things, scandals. Strong flavors rather than mild ones, sweet tastes. Talkative or funny people rather than quiet ones. Entertainment, movies, games, martial arts, sports instead of natural landscapes. All stimulate the senses, making it impossible to get bored. The ever-demanding ego is pleased. The ego dislikes quiet, motionless things. However, after getting tired in a noisy place, there may be times when you go to a quiet place and feel calmness. That's the comfort of existing as consciousness.