Sep
23
Importance of the conceptual understanding
“Confusion over what is meant by ego can arise here, with many mistaking egolessness for abandonment of the theoretical/ metapsychological/structural ego. Egolessness, in this case, is confused with the absence of repression, or with liberation from psychological defenses, a view which often encourages the release of buried sexual or aggressive longing. This can be thought of as a “primal scream” version of egolessness, perpetuated by insufficient conceptual preparation for meditation, and vulnerable to becoming a kind of self-righteous hedonism. The need for an appropriate conceptual framework at this stage is clear. ”
— “Psychotherapy without the Self: A Buddhist Perspective”, Dr. Mark Epstein M.D.
