Dissolving the Ego, Realizing the Self: Contemplations from the Teachings of David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D.

By David R. Hawkins, MD/PHD

Realize your true potential, dissolve the ego limitations, learn how to master your emotions, and awaken your inner genius with this groundbreaking self-development book from renowned psychiatrist, clinician, and spiritual teacher, David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D.

How does one traverse the spiritual landscape to move beyond suffering to experience the peace and love of God, to transcend illusion and realize the state of enlightenment?

In this collection of inspiring passages from Dr. David R. Hawkins’s work, you’ll learn the illusory nature of the personal self (identification of the ego/mind) and the direct pathways to transcend the ego/mind’s trappings.

“I consider myself a student of David Hawkins and return to his books and work time and time again. His wisdom deeply resonates with my lived experiences; he is often able to beautifully articulate what I cannot put into words.” – Vex King

This pocket edition is designed especially for today’s spiritual student on the go, to inspire contemplation and reflection during a break at work, while hiking in the woods, during a quiet coffee-shop moment, on an airplane, with a partner—in whatever environment one finds oneself.

Dissolving the Ego, Realizing the Self is a reliable companion on your quest toward higher truth.

Dr. David Hawkins takes you on an enlightening journey of understanding the intricate workings of the mind and ego, culminating in a groundbreaking explanation of consciousness.

You’ll learn how to:

· Master your emotions with practical strategies and insights.
· Attract positivity and abundance in your life.
· Harness your personal power without resorting to force.
· Heal the mind and soul for a healthier, happier existence.

This motivational book seamlessly merges spirituality, psychology, and business principles, making it an essential read for anyone interested in philosophy, human behavior, leadership, and success.

Experience a paradigm shift in your journey towards self-realization by immersing yourself in the wisdom of Dr. David Hawkins. Allow your consciousness to soar as you step towards a more enlightened and fulfilling life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hay House LLC
• Release date: Aug 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781401931162

Book preview

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DISSOLVING

THE EGO,

REALIZING

THE SELF

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ALSO BY DAVID R. HAWKINS

Healing and Recovery

Reality, Spirituality, and Modern Man

Discovery of the Presence of God

Transcending the Levels of Consciousness

Truth vs. Falsehood

I: Reality and Subjectivity

The Eye of the I

Power vs. Force*

Along the Path to Enlightenment*

Orthomolecular Psychiatry (with Linus Pauling)

*Available from Hay House

Please visit:

Hay House USA: www.hayhouse.com®

Hay House Australia: www.hayhouse.com.au

Hay House UK: www.hayhouse.co.uk

Hay House South Africa: www.hayhouse.co.za

Hay House India: www.hayhouse.co.in

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DISSOLVING

THE EGO,

REALIZING

THE SELF

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CONTEMPLATIONS

FROM THE TEACHINGS OF

DAVID R. HAWKINS, M.D., PH.D.

Edited by Scott Jeffrey

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HAY HOUSE, INC.

Carlsbad, California • New York City

London • Sydney • Johannesburg

Vancouver • Hong Kong • New Delhi

Copyright © 2011 by David R. Hawkins

Published and distributed in the United States by: Hay House, Inc.: www.hayhouse.com • Published and distributed in Australia by: Hay House Australia Pty. Ltd.: www.hayhouse.com.au • Published and distributed in the United Kingdom by: Hay House UK, Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.uk • Published and distributed in the Republic of South Africa by: Hay House SA (Pty), Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.za • Distributed in Canada by: Raincoast: www.raincoast.com • Published in India by: Hay House Publishers India: www.hayhouse.co.in

Editorial supervision: Jill Kramer • Project editor: Shannon Littrell

Design: Jenny Richards

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise be copied for public or private use— other than for fair use as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews—without prior written permission of the publisher.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Hawkins, David R.

Dissolving the ego, realizing the self : contemplations from the teachings of David R. Hawkins, M.D., PH.D. / edited by Scott Jeffrey. — 1st ed.

     p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-4019-3115-5 (tradepaper : alk. paper) 1. Self-realization-Religious aspects. 2. Self—Religious aspects. 3. Spiritual life. I. Jeffrey, Scott. II. Title.

BL624.H356 2011

128—dc22

2010051682

Tradepaper ISBN: 978-1-4019-3115-5

Digital ISBN: 978-1-4019-3116-2

14 13 12 11 4 3 2 1

1st edition, August 2011

Printed in the United States of America

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Gloria in Excelsis Deo!

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CONTENTS

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Preface by Dr. David R. Hawkins

Introduction

Part I: The self (Ego/Mind)

1:    Nature of the Ego

2:    Nature of Mind

Part II: Transcending the self

3:    Pathway of Mind

4:    Subjectivity

5:    Witnessing and Observing

6:    Meditation

7:    Devotion to God and Truth

Part III: Realizing the Self

8:    Nature of Divinity/Self/Truth

9:    The Presence of God

10:   Nonduality

11:   Enlightenment

Glossary

About the Author and Editor

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Note: References to the Map of Consciousness and the concept of calibration are explained in detail in Dr. Hawkins’s book Power vs. Force (Hay House, 2002).

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PREFACE

All life reflects the evolution of consciousness, from that of the simple bacteria to the advanced levels of Enlightenment of the world’s Great Sages. Scott Jeffrey has taken on the formidable task of delineating core comprehensions that occur along the Great Pathway. These selections are inspirational, innately transformative steps that accelerate the journey to Enlightenment. To completely understand any one of them illuminates all the others. It is the great journey that uplifts the reader from the seemingly mundane to the Realization of the Glory of God.

— David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D.

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INTRODUCTION

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The contemporary spiritual student is bombarded by information and activities that consume time and attention. This collection of writings on the nature of ego, mind, and consciousness itself is designed to be a pocket companion for serious seekers and students of Dr. David R. Hawkins’s teachings, easily portable and taking up little room on your nightstand. Whether you’re working at your desk, waiting in line at the bank, sipping coffee in a café, hiking in the woods, or just lying in bed, Dissolving the Ego, Realizing the Self provides convenient contemplations of Truth.

Quotes and passages to inspire contemplation and reflection for the student on the go have been hand-selected from all of Dr. Hawkins’s core writings—including Power vs. Force; The Eye of the I; I: Reality and Subjectivity; Truth vs. Falsehood; Transcending the Levels of Consciousness; Discovery of the Presence of God; and Reality, Spirituality, and Modern Man— as well as numerous other published and unpublished works.

The chosen selections have been taken directly from the above sources, with only minor alterations where appropriate, categorized topically for the reader’s convenience, with a great deal of overlap between sections. The beauty of this format is that you may begin reading wherever you feel most inspired, or simply flip to a page at random. (If you find that any of the terms used are unfamiliar, please consult the Glossary at the back of the book.)

The approach to spiritual progress as explained by Dr. Hawkins isn’t one of getting somewhere, as there is no where to get. Instead, you’re guided to transcend your ego and shed all illusions so that Truth stands revealed. As he explains in many of his talks, The sun is always shining; you need only remove the clouds.

Dr. Hawkins’s teachings expose the ego/mind as nothing more than a complex house of mirrors. As a skilled teacher and mystic, he guides us out of perceptual distortions and fallacies into the Light of Consciousness itself. His teachings represent a beacon of truth that any willing spiritual aspirant can follow to higher levels of consciousness.

You’ll find that Dr. Hawkins illuminates the illusion of duality (the sense of separation of a this observing a that) and the true nature of Subjectivity, Reality, and Truth with a precision unsurpassed in spiritual literature. He offers the devoted student the gift of clarity and spiritual direction, distilling difficult and confusing topics for the Western mind.

Dr. Hawkins’s teachings are not oriented toward the spiritually timid; that is, those more interested in energizing belief systems, confirming opinions, and blindly adhering to ecclesiastic doctrine. For the individual who is honestly moving toward greater meaning and understanding, and ultimately Self-realization, the passages herein were selected.

In transcending the illusion of the (small) self, one realizes the (higher) Self—the Ultimate Reality out of which consciousness arises, beyond words or concepts. The first section of this book explores the true nature of the small self—the ego and mind. Subsequent sections are devoted to transcending that self and experiencing the nondualistic Presence of Divinity and the realization of Enlightenment.

Many of the themes and concepts presented in this book are repetitive, as they are in Dr. Hawkins’s core writings. This is done intentionally, as Dr. Hawkins explains that nonlinear principles are learned through repetition rather than linear, sequential understanding. It is in reading, rereading, and contemplating the meaning behind the words that one’s understanding ripens. Eventually, the teaching becomes a part of the student (a subjective, experiential reality). Words, then, become unnecessary.

May your spiritual journey lead you to Higher Truth….

— Blessings,

Scott Jeffrey

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THE SELF (EGO/MIND)

The process of transcending to the highest levels of enlightenment is one of letting go of the identification of a personal self. The belief in an I or me—a central processing unit that has its own body, mind, and emotions—is a hindrance to realizing one’s true nature. Dr. Hawkins explains that the self (with a small s)—the composite of ego and mind—presumes there is a centralized inner primary causal agent, for example, the ‘doer’ of deeds, the ‘thinker’ of thoughts, and the ‘decider’ of decisions. We start by exploring the nature of the ego and the mind—the sense of a personal self— so we are better prepared to transcend this misidentification.

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NATURE OF THE EGO

Hawkins describes the ego as the imaginary doer behind thought and action. This set of entrenched habits of thought, enforced by societal consensus and unconscious repetition, creates the illusionary sense of a personal self. The primary goal of spiritual work is to transcend the central processing unit believed to be essential for survival. Understanding the ego’s nature reveals its underlying mechanisms so that we may withdraw the value we innocently projected onto it, thereby enabling spiritual progress.

The progress of consciousness is facilitated by an awareness of the evolutionary nature of the ego and its structure.

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Realization is a progressive process. Spiritual progress is hastened by understanding the true nature of the ego. It is not an enemy to be attacked or defeated, nor is it an evil to be vanquished. It is dissolved by compassionate understanding.

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In spiritual parlance, ego implies a negative quality, an obstacle to realization because of its linear dualistic construction. In psychology, however, the term denotes coping and survival skills needed to deal effectively with the world.

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The world of the ego is like a house of mirrors through which the ego wanders, lost and confused, as it chases the images in one mirror after another. Human life is characterized by endless trials and errors while attempting to escape the maze. At times, for