Why do I have to overcome my ego?
From most religions we know the fact that the individual should refrain from his egoistic behavior for the good of the group, for this there are then rules, commandments and laws.
In Chan (Zen) Buddhism, too, the abandonment of the ego is a central issue. In some groups the students are frustrated by the master, occupied with (unsolvable) tasks in order to achieve detachment from worldliness.
But even the frustration usually leads to attachments, very rarely to the final abandonment of the ego. Neither thinking "I am the greatest", nor the humble notion "I am nothing", none of these will release the ego into oblivion.
Constantly thinking about it, by the way, will not either, nor will the learned behavior patterns bring the thought palace to rest, no, only walking the path will bring clarity. He who no longer cares about evaluations, no longer divides into "right" or "wrong", will approach his goal in any case.
Thinking about overcoming the ego is comparable to the stimulus of coughing that we want to suppress (for example in the theater), the thought of coughing quickly becomes overwhelming, the situation only gets better when the stimulus subsides. So it is with overcoming the ego, which can only take place when it itself no longer receives attention.
To "not" think of something is incomparably more difficult than to think of something. If the one thought constantly wants to go through the head, then it is difficult to stop it.
It is important for this that the thought is replaced by another one, that the thought palace is given something to replace it. This is where the concept of "enlightenment" that Buddha recommended to his followers comes in quite handy.
Have you ever thought about your "awakening"? What might that be, the attainment of another sphere, or immortality, or wisdom? What do you think? It is clear that "enlightenment" is the essence of Buddhist philosophy, that the individual should think about this core issue.
And how can "enlightenment" be achieved? Well, relatively simply, the seeker sets out on the path to his goal, beginning with a decision. Then, in a further step, the ego must be switched off, or trimmed to a reasonable measure.
The ego is the central point in the teachings of the sublime, who still values, or has material thoughts, has not yet progressed far enough to go through the gateless gate. The ego can cause wars, it can kill and enslave, it is a big problem almost with every human being.
The way is the goal!
Among the ideals that can lift a person above himself and his environment, eliminating worldly desires, eradicating sloth and sleepiness, vanity and low esteem, overcoming fearfulness and restlessness, and renouncing ill-will are among the most essential ones.
- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero
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