An Invitation to Love: The Contemplative Life in a Busy World Handout #2 10/4/05

I. Definitions of Ego/Egoic

1) Ego as in a Freudian Definition. This is about the development of the personality

§ *Id: Physical: Allows us to get our basic needs met (hunger, survival, warmth, etc). Concerned about me and mine. Cares only about its own satisfaction and not about others. (Babies, people in survival mode, etc).

• *Ego: Rational: Based on the reality principal of life that there are other people and needs in the universe. Tries to satisfy the demands of the id and the demands of the superego.

• *Superego: Moral: That part of the personality that offers moral guidance or regulation based on what we have been taught by society and parents.

i. The ego has a difficult time satisfying both the id and the superego. For instance, we know that we are not suppose to pollute our universe and consume too many resources (superego). But, we have insatiable appetites to have things and to experience pleasure (id). The ego has a difficult time satisfying both the id and superego, so it uses tools to make the job easier. These tools are called Ego Defense Mechanisms. These include: denial, displacement, intellectualization, projection, rationalization, reaction formation, regression, repression, sublimation, suppression. (See http://allpsych.com/psychology101/defenses.html)

ii. Ego defenses, when used effectively, are not necessarily unhealthy. However, when we employ the defenses at the wrong time, wrong place, or overuse them, they can become destructive. This overuse is often called “the wounded ego.” When the ego satisfies mostly the demands of the id and not the superego, it is often called “a selfish ego.” Both wounded and selfish ego are modern uses of the word ego but are not precise in regards to strict Freudian terms.

2) The human race has evolved through several levels of consciousness over millions of years. (See chapter IV and Appendix II, page 140)

3) In the normal development of a human being, “normal” people go through various stages of growth and understanding. See stages of faith on the reverse side of handout as well as Keating’s system of reptilian, typhonic, mythic, and mental egoic in Appendix II, page 140.

The “emergence of mental egoic powers {i.e. ability to be rational}, prepares the way for higher levels of consciousness. But unless our emotional programs for happiness are directly confronted, reason is co-opted to rationalize, justify, and glorify the values they represent.” [pg. 140] Keating recommends the contemplative life as a way to release the emotional programs for happiness. He emphasized centering prayer as an integral part of the contemplative life. Through the practice of silence, the unconscious is purged of past, emotional hurts, thus freeing us to “put on the mind of Christ” instead of having to use defense mechanisms to get us through the day.

II. Centering Prayer

"Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God's presence and action within."

• The sacred word expresses our intention to be in God's presence and to yield to the divine action.
• The sacred word should be chosen during a brief period of prayer asking the Holy Spirit to inspire us with one that is especially suitable for us.
• Examples: Lord, Jesus, Abba, Father, Mother

§ Other possibilities: Love, Peace, Shalom, Amen, Holy, Jesu, Spirit, I rest in God, Kyrie, Peace, Lord have mercy,

• Having chosen a sacred word, we do not change it during the prayer period, for that would be to start thinking again.
• A simple inward gaze upon God may be more suitable for some persons than the sacred word. In this case, one consents to God's presence and action by turning inwardly toward God as if gazing upon him. The same guidelines apply to the sacred gaze as to the sacred word.

Today’s Questions:

1. [pg. 31-32] Over-identification with the group is a dominant characteristic of mythic membership consciousness. When we derive our identity from the social unit of which we are a member, we give the group unquestioning loyalty. This can lead to problems such as tribalism, unreflective nationalism, gang identification, intellectual or personal stagnation, shunning, even death. Group loyalty includes membership in a family, a sports team, a fraternal order, one’s country, religion, political party, etc. Jesus directs strong words to people at the mythical membership level: “If anyone comes to me without turning his back on his father & mother, wife, children, etc. s/he can not be my follower.” (Lk. 14:26)

§ What loyalties do you have? (i.e. What groups are you part of?)

§ Do you place any of these loyalties before your loyalty to God?

§ What problems exist in your life by these loyalties?

§ What problems exist in the world because of people’s loyalty to a particular mythic membership?

2. [pg. 36] Review insights about guilt. Keating says, “Guilt feelings that last longer than half a minute, are neurotic. Pervasive, prolonged, and paralyzing guilt is the result of the superego at work.”

§ Do you agree or disagree? Discuss

§ What is the purpose of healthy guilt?

§ How do you handle guilt in your own life?

§ What is the difference between a mistake and a sin?

3. [Chapter 7, begin at pg. 44] The four consents: to the goodness of life, the full development of our being (talents, energies), non-being and diminution of self, consent to be transformed.

§ Which of these do you consent to and which ones do you struggle with?

§ Do you understand why you struggle with a particular consent?

§ What do you plan to do to heal and move beyond struggle to acceptance?