Ego is a combination of:
Who you think you are
Who you think you want to be
Who you think other people think you are
Who you think other people want you to be
Who other people actually think you are
Who you actually are
These ingredients are constantly in play. The more we are conscious of them, the more we can learn to influence them and skillfully apply the lessons of each.
The first Paramita (see The Ten Paramitas) is Dana, or generosity, especially generosity of spirit. Some of the situations in which we fail in being generous may include:
Stubbornly insisting on having things our own way
Not respecting others; not listening with an open heart/mind
Not answering questions; defying social expectations (How are you? What do you do?)
Not accepting invitations
Refusing gifts
Not teaching (but, remember Upaya, skillful means)
Not offering the Three Refuges
Of special note are 4 and 5. Is it always more blessed to give than to receive? If so, the generous act is to graciously receive so the other may be blessed by giving.
Most of our classes are appropriate for both beginners and advanced. This is possible because there are three things that everyone can do well from the beginning. Those three things are:
Try. Breathe. Connect.
Try. Give it a shot. Keep at it. Pay persistent attention. Spend some time with it. Diligently use what you have learned, and go a little bit further.
Breathe. In and out. Receive and Release. Open the neck, the jaw, the lips, and the ribs.
Connect. Look around. Listen. Move, feel, respond. Offer and receive.
Remember these three things: Try. Breathe. Connect. Maintain them and the particular skills you are developing through lessons and practice. They will come naturally in due time.
