The Sense of I-am-ness Asmitā

The Discerning Clear Gaze of Yoga - Gidi Ifergan

Gidi Ifergan [+-]
Monash University
Dr. Gidi Ifergan, a scholar of Indian philosophy and Tibetan Buddhism, currently conducts research and teaches at The Monash Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies, Monash University in Melbourne. He is the author of The Man from Samyé: Longchenpa on Praxis, Its Negation and Liberation (2014) and The Psychology of the Yogas (2021).

Description

In the second chapter, The Sense of I-am-ness Asmitā, I explore one of the two principal entities to which the discerning and clear gaze (viveka-khyāti) is directed, referring to the Yogasūtra and to the seminal text on Sāṁkhya philosophy, the Sāṁkhyakārikā, written by Iśvarakṛṣṇa (450–350 CE). This exploration looks into the “formation” of the sense of I-am-ness (the phenomenal self), how it evolves within the tangled and confusing relationships of the world of phenomena (prakṛti) and the true Self (puruṣa), becoming a solid cause of distress within the psychological framework of yoga. Such a description differs from classical New Age or psychological conceptions, such as Freud’s understanding of the ego, which tend to equate their understanding of the ego with the yogic sense of I-am-ness. Drawing on Trungpa and Levinas, I then explore the meaning and possible implications of giving up or surrendering the sense of I-am-ness. Finally, I present a concise discussion of the ways in which, ironically, Western modern culture influences, shapes and affects the modern yogi’s sense of I-am-ness or ego.

Notify A Colleague

Citation

Ifergan, Gidi. The Sense of I-am-ness Asmitā. The Discerning Clear Gaze of Yoga. Equinox eBooks Publishing, United Kingdom. p. 33-63 Nov 2024. ISBN 9781800504851. https://www.equinoxpub.com/home/view-chapter/?id=45213. Date accessed: 13 Dec 2024 doi: 10.1558/equinox.45213. Nov 2024

Dublin Core Metadata