I wonder what percentage of you recognize this quote in the post's title today? I'd guess maybe 80 or 90%. Just in case you don't, here it is above, captured in all it's glory.
"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!" These are words of the small self, the false self, the ego, or persona protecting their turf. Our evolutionary process has found it important for us to have a big enough self to defend our territory and survive--like a blowfish puffing itself up.
But as we discover over and over, the basic gifts of evolution that have empowered us to stay alive are not the ones we need to become FULLY alive.
The huffing and puffing of the Projected Oz is forceful and compelling. A marvelous example of Ego in full bloom. The pilgrims to Oz are suitably cowed!
But even more compelling in this short scene is the gratitude in the tone of the human voice of Oz. Dorothy says to him, 'You're a very BAD MAN!" And then from that part of Self that is not ego or persona, the man, stepping away from the machinery of inflation replies, "No, no, I'm a very good man. I'm just a very bad wizard."
A moment before he'd been cranking the projector, pushing buttons, amplifying everything. Then a faithful, curious little dog draws back the veil.
Contemplate prayer, insight meditation, mindfulness of all kinds are like Toto, tugging the curtain aside. It can be a scary process, unveiling the false self. And evolution has built in strong resistance to it.
But something in us knows we make very bad wizards. And something in us longs for the energy misspent on ego to get invested in the real deal. And something in us is very grateful to get to be who we most truly are.
(I can imagine this movie clip and description may speak more to male ego than female--so, women friends, any iconic movie scenes come to mind that shed light on your experience of small self? If so, I'd love for you to say something about it below or on my FB page.)
