What is Ego: Shift Cast #40

Dr. Who and the Ego

I just watched an episode of the new Dr Who, and I noticed a connection with what Eckhart Tolle said in his video. The episode suggests that the story of you is NOT you...but your real self is something far more wonderful! This just answer the question "What is Ego?"

If you are not familiar with Dr Who, here is an excerpt from wikipedia:

"Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a mysterious alien time-traveller known as "the Doctor" who travels in his space and time-ship, the TARDIS, which appears from the exterior to be a blue 1950s police box. With his companions, he explores time and space, solving problems, facing monsters and righting wrongs."

What is Ego?: Cool Dr. Who Ep

The gist of the story goes like this:

- The doctor runs from the bad guys (we don't know why).

- He goes back in time on earth to WWII England and becomes human (...he's an alien "time lord" don't you know) in order to HIDE OUT from the bad guys for a little while.

- IF everything goes right, the bad guys will not find him and die very soon (maybe like three months)...and of course, that would be good, because they are bad after all.

- His Time Lord "consciousness" is stored in a watch.

- His companion is charged with watching over the doctor and told to open the watch and let his "time lord" consciousness out either after the time is up and the bad guys are surely dead or if the bad guys show up...

...of course the bad guys show up...wouldn't be much of a story if the bad guys didn't show up right?!?!

Here is where the connection comes...and how it asks the what is ego question...

What is Ego?: Your Story?

The bad guys want to EAT to The Doctor, because his Time Lord power will allow them to live forever...instead of 3 months or so...they want to live forever (and really...who doesn't?)

So in order to hide, the Doctor...becomes human. While he is human he forgets he is the Doctor...he becomes John Smith.

What is Ego?: John Smith is a false self

What is ego? In this episode...Ego is John Smith. John Smith thinks he is a real person, with a real past and a real life...and he really falls in love and wants to keep living...

...I guess the Doctor didn't consider his creation's feelings when he came up with the plan...but then again...he WAS in a bit of rush.

John Smith is faced with annihilation on both sides: 1) the bad guys kill the planet (including him and the woman he loves and all life on earth) if he doesn't allow the Doctor to return to his body 2) When the doctor returns...he will cease to be.

He finds out that he is only a story and not really real.

What is Ego?: Eckhart Tolle's "false self"

This is sorta what Eckhart Tolle refers to when he talks about "ego death".

You have made some progress toward "the truth of you" when you can let go of the story that you think is you and realize that you are really the doctor...or ...um...the real you.

The doctor transcends time and space...so does the real you (and me!).

The doctor can tap into knowledge as needed...so can the real you.

The doctor is powerful and lives forever...he changes bodies as needed...so does the real you.

The doctor is kind and loving, and knows that physical death is an event...not a state of nonexistence...and so does the real you.

The story of YOU started when you woke up on earth and continues to be told by you to you. It is all your memories and experiences and longings...but it is just a story...it isn't you.

You are quite different really...You are the silent observer and NOT the story.

I thought that was a really fun connection...so I wrote about it.

End of Story.

P.S. This is just a pointer to the truth...not really true at all.