Opposite ‘I’s – The Lower Mind’s Trap

Opposite ‘I’s – The Lower Mind’s Trap

Try to be happy by always thinking, “This I is nothing. − Yoga Vasishtha

The best animal trap is one that snares its prey, unsuspecting. Sadly, we are programmed with a psychological trap that is as (nearly) foolproof as the best animal trap.

We suffer from a mechanical, mental habit called, “opposite ‘I’s.” In the Fourth Way, we consider this tendency to be a flaw. Most people do it and are completely unaware of it.

The way opposite ‘I’s happens is like this: when we hear something from another, like a point of view, opinion, or even a fact at times, the machine automatically generates an opposite viewpoint, an opposite position, an opposite ‘I.’ This occurs instantaneously. The opposite ‘I’ may be exception-finding or oppositional or softer like, “what about . . .”

Heedlessness is the opposite of awareness. – Kashani

An opposite ‘I’ is both a terrific opportunity and a trap. If we catch it, control it, and do not express it, we may have a moment of higher consciousness and clearer thinking. This is true whether the opposite ‘I’ is accurate or not. This is the opportunity of the moment. Enhance your thinking and state by raising ordinary “thinking” to a higher level of thinking.

Keep the reins tight, or your donkey will stray. And if you do leave the road, go in the opposite direction from where your donkey wants to go. That will get you back on the path. − Rumi

It’s a trap, however, if we express an opposite ‘I’ or allow it to fill our mind in a conversation, replacing listening to another person with rehearsing our point of view in our head and are thereby absent, lost in imagination. It’s also a trap because it fools us into thinking that our viewpoint and our ego are the only ones. Anyone who has done anything with other people has learned that others also contribute to that activity. Our ego is a lie no matter how we sugarcoat its expressions of opposite ‘I’s.

Probably while you were reading this post you were experiencing some opposite ‘I’s. It is completely normal. No worries, it happens. Now hit the reset button in your mind. Remember yourself right now. What is not normal is controlling the ‘I’s and, reserving them or in some cases, ignoring them for the higher purpose of waking up. Have you observed this mechanicality? What method of control has worked for you?

If someone cannot subdue habitual thinking and wandering thoughts, what will be the use of observing the mind? − Milarepa

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Lao Tzu, Igarashi Shunmei