Theos-Talk Archives (November 1998 Message tt00417)

Dan,

There is a general misconception in Theosophical ranks that the Ego
or HIgher Self or Reincarnating Ego or Individuality is "real" while the
human ego or personality is "unreal." Truth is, both are maya in the
sense that both have temporary and illusive existence. The ego
or personality only lasts for one lifetime. The Ego or Individuality
only lasts for one manvantara. The Ego is clearly longer-lasting
and more real than the ego, but only in relativisitic sense. If
we think that all maya is unreal, then both ego and Ego are unreal.
If we allow that maya has a relative reality, then both ego and
Ego have a relative reality. The idea that the Ego is the "real man"
is therefore very misleading.

Probably a good analogy here is the Chinese puzzle boxes where
one box is inside another box which is inside another box. Each
time we look inside a box, we expect to see the "real" present, the
reward or gift that we think is hidden in the box. But all we really
find is yet another box. In short, there is no "real" man (or woman)
except in a very relativistic sense.

Jerry S.




>Jerry Schueler wrote
>>
>> First of all, I don't like your "Real Man" because as far as I am
>> concerned, the individuality is just as real and just as illusive
>> as the personality or physical body. All are maya. All are
>> real. All are illusion.
>
>Jerry, exactly what do you mean by all these words you have written
>above?  You may know exactly what you mean but it is extremely unclear
>to me what you are getting at.  Please define "maya", "real",
>"illusion".  And what was the point you were trying to make to Dallas?
>
>Daniel