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Of course labels create context in conversation.
That woman is 'beautiful'... we each have an understanding of what beautiful means so this makes sense.
But to classify her as that beautiful girl and create an identity from 'beautiful' is shallow. This is just how her body/face looks.

Thinking: "I really like her because she's beautiful" is the same as thinking: "I really like her because she has shiny shoes..." !?

Labels attached to people are external and irrelevant.. and don't explain anything about the person beyond an external, shallow level.

Saying someone is beautiful is not saying anything else but that. It's not saying "I like that person because they are beautiful" or "OMG - that person is so much better than XX because they are rich"

It's a description - no more - no less. But if someone in their own mind attaches judgements to those descriptions - then that's their issue... it's not an inherent quality of the descriptor. It says much more about the person doing the judging than it doesn't about the label itself.

Descriptions are neither shallow nor irrelevant. They *do* have meaning. They do not imply better or worse - or identity. Describing myself as someone who plays the piano doesn't give me an identity... it describes how I spend my time. If I say I am a teacher - it's not saying 'I am such a valuable person' - it's describing how I earn a living.

If someone then turns that description into a value judgement - that's says something about their own beliefs. But it doesn't change the fact that all I am saying is I play the piano... or that I can play Chopin... or I can play jazz... or whatever and I earn money by teaching music. It has meaning and it's relevant to my life.

I agree.

While you may not do that.. I still believe a lot of us do judge people on their labels. Maybe even without knowing it consciously.

For example: If you saw a man sleeping on a park bench you might label them as 'homeless'.. But If they are treated any differently to a wealthy business man then I think you are indeed judging on the external and mentally labeling them.

But what happens if you ignore all external things like .. the clothes each wears, the location of each person, the amount of facial hair, their smell ... their career their hobbies... etc..

We are left with the inner being..
Each was exactly the same when they were born, and each will be exactly the same when they die. They are exactly the same beyond the labels that the human mind automatically applies to them.

Focusing on your thought patterns, (not thinking about them) makes this concept very clear. Or, has made this concept very clear for me.

I can label myself in all sorts of ways, but my value is outside of that. I do not attribute my self-worth to the things I do or the things I am. Why do you assume that is so?

Hippy

Your actions now contradict what you say. (Your talk don't match your walk).

You can't talk about meditating and detachment but be so attached to responding and explaining everything to everyone. Would Buddha have responded to every single little disagreement? Would he feel the need to justify everything he said with an explanation?

I started out liking some of the things you had to say. Your philosophy and your outlook. And I believe you to be a good honest person searching for truth and part of this search involves seeking conversation and collaboration from others.

I basically agree with your philosophies and theories.

If you feel what you're saying has worth, say it and if people don't hear you or agree that's their issue!

Those that like what you say, you probably won't hear from, they'll read it, like it and move on.

Say what you have to say, keep it short, LET others disagree, or be confused or whatever. To let it go would be the true meditative person's thing to do. THAT'S how to be beyond ego.

There is no useful contribution to a forum to just continue responding and responding. To be "ego-less", at peace with oneself, separate with one's thoughts is to be self-less in action. To have mastery over self. To be an action person, not a reaction person.

Yes. I do think about that... I am certainly not Buddha, You are probably right in that there is a small amount of ego hiding in a corner of me wanting me to be valued for my 'beliefs'. But I can usually be conscious of that.

I know what it means to not act through ego, but those beliefs haven't completely overtaken me yet. Or sometimes they overtake me, and sometimes they become just beliefs again.

My beliefs are still quite unstable. I know what they are, but I feel the only way to make them stronger, or more agreeable, is to share them and note how people poke holes at them.. this way I can also poke at my own beliefs.. draw conclusions... and make them stronger.

So while it's not useful for other people, I personally find it very useful. And so I always encourage people to discuss them.. And thank you all ...

Also, Understanding people means not fearing them, no matter how threatening they might be.


........ Yes, I find it amazingly ironic and hilarious that I'm responding to your post with my answer...

I'm laughing out loud..

The desire to create this post, the desire to teach o show others something.. that alone is ego.

Maybe it's good to reflect on why "YOU" wanted to make this post?

"The desire to teach and show others something is ego" .. ?

I don't agree..

We all have the desire to teach our babies how to eat.

I have the desire to teach others... I'm not saying you have to digest anything I say. I like disagreement, that leads to discussion.

But I think I understand how you can feel that way..

Perhaps you feel I'm suggesting an idea is more right and more true than your own ideas. This isn't the case. I'm sharing ideas. If you don't agree, then please share the ideas that clash.

I'm not saying I'm right. I'm sharing ideas.