This is my 18th year of teaching trainings four per year! One of the best things about teaching this course is that I always present something I never have presented before. It may be a new idea altogether, or a core concept that I have presented many times, but that I suddenly find I am presenting in a completely new way.

I found myself explaining to this class that all problems arise from the ego -- the sense of limited fearful separation. Problems, defined as unnecessary emotional suffering, are optional! Were not required to have them, and in fact, we never have a justifiable reason to suffer fearful emotional distress! Of course we will experience sadness and grief at the loss of a loved one, but without a sense of ego, of limited self, we do not suffer distress -- in the sense of being diminished or weakened or deprived by the experience. Without the ego, we dont create a mournful story which we constantly replay to depress ourselves.

As I presented this in class, I was astonished -- even though these ideas are by no means new to me. Presenting to the class in this way made them new to me once again. So I started contemplating daily on my morning walks remembering that the only problems or suffering I have are due to ego attachment. Otherwise I could be experiencing the Higher Self List 24 hours a day Joy, Freedom, Exuberance, etc., (see my other ezine articles on choosing the Higher Self and releasing anger).

On these walks I realized that just because a particular outcome I was looking forward to has not yet appeared, nor the funds to realize it, does not require me to shrink in any fearful way. I saw how grasping and desiring this outcome was creating a temptation to feel fearful and small. So I released this attachment repeatedly and enjoyed the sense of lightness and openness in my chest, and the clarity in my mind, that resulted.

Then I went further, examining the desire to grasp Jack, to be Jack, to identify as this body/mind. I repeatedly practiced releasing my hold on being Jack, on wanting to survive as this body. Releasing at the root of ego in this way made it very clear that stress, and having problems are entirely optional.

Does it seem outrageous to think in this way to question the idea that you are your body/mind/personality? Since we all will have to release it at the moment of death, why wait until we are forced to let go? It may seem very scary if we wait. Dont you think it would be better to practice now, so that letting go of the body at the moment of death could actually be fun? Having released attachment to the body so thoroughly in advance at the moment of death it would already be a done deal! Not only that, we would have lived a life free of suffering and full of Joy!

This is one way to define an enlightened being: someone who is completely free from body/mind/personality identification. By the way, body/mind/personality functions just fine, and even much better, once the grasping identification is released.

You might try repeatedly asking yourself, Can I let go of being (your name), can I let go of thinking I am this body? It doesnt matter whether the answer is yes or no either one is OK. Just notice your inner feeling each time you ask.

Good luck!

Copyright 2006, Jack Elias, All Rights Reserved