Simply put, it implies that you no longer identify yourself with what you know to be you, including your beliefs, opinions, and ideologies, as you have them now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can also view it as ego transcendence or higher consciousness awakening, as you transcend your unique self and move towards the Universe (Source, Higher Power, Ground of Being).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But why would one want to pursue ego dissolution and lose their sense of identity?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It boils down to three polarizing approaches to ego death:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- The spiritual approach postulates that you must eliminate your ego entirely to become free and fully experience unity consciousness.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Western psychology views the ego as one\u2019s individual self. So you have to strengthen the ego to become fulfilled as a human being.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Mystic traditions say you\u2019re one with the entire Ground of Being. You need to rediscover this prior and true reality by finding the ultimate Oneness that unites your organism with all of the Universe.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
According to Ken Wilber<\/strong>, an American philosopher and the trainer of Mindvalley\u2019s The Integral Life<\/em> Quest, each of these approaches represents a paradigm that can\u2019t handle the reality of the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSpiritual approach excludes the possibility of the illusion caused by the shadow aspect of your persona. And psychoanalysis denies the unity consciousness experience as something beyond individual perception,<\/em>\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So should you pursue ego death or strengthen it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is entirely up to you, as there is no one ultimately true answer to this question. And whatever you choose for yourself, you want to make room for everything else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to experience ego death<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There are a few ways to induce this experience. Essentially, whatever puts you into altered states of consciousness can help you dissolve your ego.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perhaps one of the most common ways you can experience ego death is during psychedelic trips. Studies<\/a> show that psychedelics, indeed, strongly correlate with ego dissolution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are a few other methods to consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Meditation <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Breathwork<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Astral projection<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Lucid dreaming<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Reading spiritual texts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
All these techniques allow you to have a transcendental feeling of oneness with the Universe<\/a>. This sense of unity can\u2019t coexist with your ego, which is limited to one individualized self.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In other words, your ego separates you from others. Its death entails not only your interconnectedness with all there is but also the inclusion of other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What does ego death feel like?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It feels like you are tiny in the grand scheme of things. You suddenly realize you are just a speck of dust in a mighty Universe with countless galaxies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As opposed to living in an ego space that feels like the world revolves around you, ego death demolishes that feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
Your ego wants to be important. And at the same time, it makes you play smaller than your true potential.<\/p>\n\u2014 Jeffrey Allen, energy healer and trainer of Mindvalley\u2019s Unlocking Transcendence<\/em> Quest<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
When you transcend your ego, you feel small but significant enough to play as big as possible to unlock your transcendent potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This sense of smallness is very expansive, as it expands your perception of self beyond your life, even the planet you dwell on. It\u2019s as if the entire Universe is living and breathing through every cell of your being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You no longer feel separated from the divine. On the contrary, you feel one with the Creator and all creations.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to achieve ego death through meditation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Meditation<\/a> is a spiritual practice of going within. It\u2019s when you are still and present that you can experience elevated states of consciousness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the research of Dawson Church<\/strong>, founder of the National Institute for Integrative Healthcare in the U.S. and trainer of Mindvalley\u2019s Mystic Brain<\/em> Quest, when you meditate, your ego shuts down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scientifically speaking, the ego is the part of your brain that ruminates over negative thoughts and fears. It\u2019s called the Default Mode Network. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Studies of Tibetan monks <\/a>showed that meditation induces gamma brainwaves, which feel like bliss, creativity, inspiration, integration, and oneness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Isha Kriya<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
One of the most powerful meditations to achieve spiritual ego<\/a> death is Isha Kriya<\/em>, a spiritual practice<\/a> taught by Sadhguru, an Indian yogi guru and the trainer of Mindvalley\u2019s A Yogi\u2019s Guide to Joy<\/em> Quest <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Isha<\/em>” means the source of creation, and “Kriya,<\/em>” internal action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The meditation is very simple: you repeat in your mind, \u201cI am not the body. I am not even the mind<\/em>,\u201d following your breathing for 12 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to do it:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Sit in a cross-legged posture, with your spine comfortably erect. If needed, use a backrest, but no headrest.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Doing the kriya facing east offers extra benefits.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Keep your hands upon your thighs, with your palms facing upwards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- With your face slightly upturned, eyes closed, keep a soft focus between your eyebrows.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Inhale and exhale gently, slowly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- With each inhalation, mentally say to yourself: \u201cI am not the body.\u201d<\/em> The inhalation should last for the whole duration of that thought.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- With each exhalation, mentally say to yourself: \u201cI am not even the mind.<\/em>\u201d The exhalation should last for the whole duration of that thought<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Repeat this for 7\u201311 minutes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Utter the sound \u2018Ah<\/em>\u2019 seven times with the mouth wide open, exhaling fully into each sound. Do it loud enough to feel the vibration of the sound. The sound should come from below the navel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Sit 5\u20136 5-6 minutes with a slightly upturned face, and keep a soft focus between your eyebrows.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The total time of this practice is between 12 and 18 minutes. You can sit longer if you wish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Try this Isha Kriya meditation guided by Sadguru<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- With each exhalation, mentally say to yourself: \u201cI am not even the mind.<\/em>\u201d The exhalation should last for the whole duration of that thought<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Reading spiritual texts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n