Obstacles to Awakening

In this episode, Eckhart talks about the ego and other factors that block us from deeper

awareness.

He explains why the ego loves opposition and thrives on feeling superior.

He says being obsessed with the need to be right in a conversation is a perfect example

because some may defend their position so fiercely they become completely unconscious.

He says Awakening is the only thing that can save us from our egos.

Eckhart believes, with practice, we discover a joyfulness in the depths of our being that

has nothing to do with what's happening out there.

One of the most unconscious things that you can be engaged in is to be obsessed in a conversation

with the need to be right.

And you don't know what's happening.

Why is this emotional need to be right within very unconscious people results in physical

violence?

They're just discussing political things and they get heated up more and more and then

physical violence results, what for?

On driving and traffic, road rage, completely insane, but the ego laughs it.

You can help the food for your ego when you get into a road rage.

You are so right and that person is so wrong, they're not even human anymore.

That's how wrong they are.

Not human, but you might as well kill them because they're not human.

So you reduce people to mental figures, to mental abstractions, and you reduce yourself

...