Menna said:
Mrs. Peel - Sorry if it didn't seem clear but I was quoting what Floetas said, he stated that his ego feels vulnerable and I agreed at times mine has also felt that way. I said when I recognize my ego it feels vulnerable - I believe this to be a positive thing. When something is vulnerable it is exposed I think its great when someone recognizes their ego that’s the first step in reducing its occurrence or coping with it.
Hi Menna, I'm wondering if you've had an opportunity to read any G.I. Gurdjieff? I ask because his work is the basis for much of this forum. You've focused several times on the idea of 'ego' - which, in the parlance of what we discuss here is, basically, the false personality. Identification with the false personality is what we actively try to avoid, whether that identification is positive or negative. Your focus on 'ego' tends to indicate that you are negatively identified with this particular aspect of your false personality. In short, it might help to remember that You are not your ego.
menna said:
Mrs. Peel and Stormy Knight - I did have apprehensions about putting this picture in my avatar because a part of me knew that people on this forum might negatively assume and judge the picture as its human nature to do so.
No one has 'judged' your avatar and your assumption that people would, while choosing to go ahead and post it, is an interesting dynamic. Were you trying to prove something, to yourself or others?
m said:
Yes most people put pictures of other people or other symbols outside themselves to symbolize who they are. I thought to myself that the best way to show people who I am is by putting a picture of my passion and myself.
Your body is not who you are. Your 'passion' as directly connected to your body is not who you are. Can you consider that to be true?
m said:
This is not your average forum everyone on this forum is open minded and spiritual. I was hoping that the people on this forum would look outside the picture (Think outside the box) and realize what characteristics it takes for one to look like this naturally. Dedication, hard work, knowledge, knowing your body, mental and physical toughness, will power... and other attributes go into this work behind this picture.
Your avatar indicates that you are identified with your body, with your motor center and your physical attributes. You take them to be representative of you, when they are not. They are nothing other than a vehicle. The characteristics you identify with in regards to your physical form are mechanical. This is not unusual. Most people are quite identified with mechanical aspects of themselves - it is part of 'the horror of the situation'.
Your identification comes through most strongly in your words to defend what you consider to be a passion - an identification with the physical manifestation of your vehicle. You are MUCH more than that.
m said:
So my thinking was that this picture would show people who I am and what character traits I posses.
Who you are is not your body. Your character traits are not your body.
m said:
I am not on any dating websites, facebook or myspace. If I wanted to boost my ego I would go there and put up all sorts of pictures similar to this one.
This implies that this picture of you does, indeed, boost your ego.
m said:
On the contrary I am very self-conscious by nature and that is what drives me. When I first read these comments I was kind of insulted as I get these assumptions and judgments from people that I expect to get these type of judgments from - didn't expect them on this board
Then it is time to ask yourself 'what flags are you flying' - if you are insulted by objective questions and comments regarding how you choose to represent yourself, then it is time to ask yourself why you choose to represent yourself the way you do. This really isn't a complicated question - and a body building pose represents a very specific thing. You are not your body.
m said:
Daco - Usual people who chase and seek the attention of women have had sex before. Also through my bodybuilding experience I have grown mentally and my interest in psychology has increased this actually lead me to read books like The Power of Now which lead me to Val Valerian which lead me to this website. SO the muscle contractions that I perform on a daily bases have helped me understand myself physically and mentally and have helped me realize how powerful we are mentally. By depriving myself of certain things through bodybuilding I have grown. I would not have graduated from college or graduate school without the discipline and time management that it has taught me.
All indications are that you are identified with your body. It is possible that, at one point, you utilized the discipline necessary to increase your muscle in order to build will, but, along the way, you became identified with it and took the activity for the impetus. If you can break that identification, you might be able to benefit from it. Again, this is not a complicated matter - it is a very simple and common thing, identification; especially identification born of compensated insecurity.
To see it and begin to address it is the issue.
m said:
So in closing the avatar picture isn't my 5 year old attempt to say "Hey look at me" I wanted others to realize what it takes - what character traits one has to have to look like this. I would think the best picture that would show people who you are would be a picture of yourself
Your essence has no body. Your essence is not concerned with how buff you are. You have become identified with your physical form.
This is not unusual, nor is it 'bad' - it just is. To not recognize it - or at least consider it - however, is unfortunate, because to not recognize it means it controls you.
Hopefully that makes at least a little sense - if not, apologies.
curiouskat said:
Hmmm...I get a very different vibe from his picture. I don't think he is trying to attract women as Daco states above, but instead I think he is showing a mind/body/soul balance that he has cultivated over many years. Martial artist perhaps? That stance is almost like a yoga pose. That is the body of an artist...an artist in the sense that he is painting a picture that is an expression of his soul with his muscles and tone. It does not say "hey ladies, get it while it is hot!" instead it says, "I have put alot of effort into achieving this balance...this is who I am." Real true artists do not create art for the attention, in fact many hide from the limelight....they create because there is nothing else for them to do with that creative energy regardless if people recognize them or not. Arrogance and ego can come in when one lets fame and money grip a tight hold on their identity forgetting the bleeding artist within. However, Menna....although I am a young female who can appreciate an attractive guy IS NOT sending that message out. In fact, it very much gives almost an asexual message as if his body is a medium for the balance he seeks within, not a vehicle for pleasure.
No offense, curiouskat, but this post, in this context, reads like a pick up line and nothing more.