In Part I, I discussed how using images builds defense against being consciousness and aware. Ego defense keeps you stuck in illusion and is the main cause for suffering. In this post, I will discuss how to use image-making to help support you through the challenges of life. This concept appears to be counter to the discussion in Part I, but it is not. For example, when you work with an image such as The Professional Businessman or The Wise Mind and assign qualities to that image which you want to develop within, then the image will enhance ego strength (not ego defense). Qualities such as integrity, courage, wisdom and serenity, to name a few will help build ego strength in order to prevent the ego from reaching for defensive manipulations. Ego will manipulate to avoid feeling fear and self-preservation.

We may have an identity of being a person of integrity but may be attached to this identity out of fear of being seen as untruthful. This attachment is defense against us feeling less or not truthful. The attachment will eventually bring about internal conflict or suffering in an outer situation such as drawing experiences to us of dishonest individuals.

When our intention of having integrity is of the highest order, then integrity becomes the first response we initiate in situations only because the situation calls for integrity. If we are reactive in situations out of fear, then we are not in integrity but only provide an illusion of integrity.  This act of integrity arises from a defended ego. Ego strength (ego acting out of stillness) is the path to consciousness and not ego defense (ego defending out of fear), which keeps us in illusion, unconsciousness and manipulations.

Observe your intentions that underlie your actions, and you will see if you are acting from a defended ego and not stillness of mind.