the wisdom of no-self

Isn't it amusing that the teaching which destroys the individual is exactly what the individual wants?

The answer is that there was never an individual.

The knowledge comes that the individual was never there.

- Sri Nisargadatta

from Nirmala Devi's Daily Inspirations

Now, I had a conversation with a child pyschiatrist - who was visiting Ananda Ashram - and we spoke about the need for the EGO in children especially.  And I do see the need for an understanding that there is an "I" - that is individuated - in even some adults.  Because these kids who suffer from major psychiatric disorders don't comprehend that there is an indiviuated Self that can separate itself from the ghosts of memories, hallucinations, etcetera.  When people are going through major depression, panic attacks, anxieties, hallucinations, horror flicks in their minds and they do not understand them to be "separate" from their ego - it is difficult for someone from the outside to say - "Oh stop that, it's all just an illusion."  We have to see that they see these things as REAL - yet - they are not. Much as nothing in our world is actually REAL.  But we buy into everything so much.  oh transcience.  Thank God for the God Timelessness.  So these teachings - like Nisargadatta Maharaj's and so many of the depths of teachings do hinge on meditation on the

"I-AM"

which is above and beyond the small self of the ego and "I-sense" that we all carry around.  I see it as reversing or flipping our viewpoint.  Rather than identifying with the small ego self - we identify with the Absolute - and view the body, mind and senses as tools for the divine in us to play with.  Then we are not so caught up in our petty emotions, feelings, thoughts, etcetera.  And we can truly experience bliss.