Eckhart Tolle: The ego always desires something from others or from situations (VIDEO)

Eckhart Tolle's teachings on the ego offer profound insights into how our sense of self can become entangled with external forms, leading to suffering and discontent. Below are selected quotes that delve into the nature of the ego and its impact on our lives.
The ego, Tolle explains, is fundamentally an identification with form. This form can be a thought, an emotion, or any external situation. When we seek to define ourselves by these forms, we inevitably lose sight of our true essence. "The ego is always the identification with form, seeking oneself and thus losing oneself in some form," Tolle says. This continuous search for identity leads to a constant cycle of dissatisfaction and incompleteness.

One way the ego attempts to escape the frustration of individual identity is by merging itself with a group identity. Whether it is based on nationality, religion, or ideology, this collective ego strengthens the individual's sense of self-importance. Tolle highlights this when he states, "One of the ways the ego tries to avoid the frustration of personal identity is by enlarging and strengthening its sense of self through identification with a group."

Tolle goes further by suggesting that every ego is inherently schizophrenic in the common understanding of the term—a fragmented personality. This fragmented state arises from the ego's attachment to external, impermanent factors. As he notes, "Ego-based emotions are rooted in the mind's identification with external factors, and all external factors are transient, changing from one moment to the next."

At its core, the ego can be defined as a dysfunctional relationship with the present moment. It is perpetually dissatisfied and restless, living in a state of conflict with what is. "The ego can be defined as a dysfunctional relationship with the present moment," Tolle explains, encapsulating how the ego's resistance to the now leads to suffering.

A significant step towards overcoming the ego is to make peace with the present moment. When we embrace the present and stop fighting it, the ego loses its power. "The decision to make the present moment your friend puts an end to the ego," Tolle declares, emphasizing the transformative power of presence.

The ego thrives on time, constantly projecting itself into the future or clinging to the past. It avoids the present moment, which is the only true reality. "The ego lives for time and feeds on it," Tolle reminds us, revealing how the ego uses time as a means to perpetuate itself.

The ego views the present moment in three ways: as a means to an end, as an obstacle, or as an enemy. It rarely accepts the present moment for what it is, constantly judging it as insufficient or flawed. Tolle observes, "The ego relates to the present moment in three ways: it treats it as a means to achieve some goal, as an obstacle, or as an enemy."

One of the key drivers of the ego is its need for attention. It craves recognition and validation from others, mistaking this for a source of energy. Yet, the ego is unaware that true energy comes from within. "The ego feeds off the attention of others, which is, after all, a form of mental energy. But the ego does not know that the source of all energy is within the person," Tolle asserts, encouraging us to look inward rather than outward for fulfillment.

The absurd overvaluation of fame is just one of the many manifestations of the ego's madness in today's world. Fame, like all external forms, is fleeting and ultimately empty. "The absurd overvaluation of fame is just one of the many manifestations of ego madness in our world," Tolle remarks, pointing to the ego's irrational obsession with recognition.

Fear is the fundamental emotion driving all egoic activities. Fear of being insignificant, fear of non-existence, fear of death—these are the underlying motivations that fuel the ego's relentless striving. "The foundational emotion governing all ego activities is fear. The fear of being nobody, the fear of non-existence, the fear of death," Tolle reveals, shedding light on the ego's primary source of power.

The ego always desires something from others or from situations. It operates with a hidden agenda, constantly seeking to fill an inner void. "The ego always wants something from other people or from situations. It always has its own hidden agenda, always feels 'not enough,' a sense of incompleteness that must be filled," Tolle explains, exposing the ego's insatiable hunger for external validation.

In conclusion, Eckhart Tolle's reflections on the ego challenge us to rethink our relationship with ourselves and the world around us. By becoming aware of the ego's influence, we can begin to free ourselves from its grip and experience the peace and presence that lie beyond it. Only by surrendering to the present moment can we transcend the limitations of the ego and discover our true nature.