Chapter 23 Chapter 2 Emotions and Pain-5

Siddhartha realized that the self does not exist independently, that the self is just a label, so clinging to the self is ignorance. This may be the greatest discovery in human history.However, although the label of the ego may be unwarranted, destroying it is no easy task.Clinging to this label called the ego is the hardest concept of all to break. The story of Siddhartha's destruction of Mara is evidence of his discovery of the falsehood of himself.There is no need to believe or not to believe that the Maharaja of the Desire Realm actually exists; Mara is nothing but Siddhartha's ego.In the story, Mara is described as a handsome, mighty, invincible warrior. This metaphor is quite appropriate.The ego, like Mara, is powerful and greedy, self-centered and deceitful, attention-seeking, clever and vain.It's hard to remember that the ego, like the illusion of a ring of fire, is composite, independent, and adaptable to change.

Habits make us weak against ourselves.Even trivial habits are tenacious.You may know how bad smoking is to your health, but that doesn't necessarily convince you to quit smoking, especially if you like the ritual of smoking; the slender rods, the reddish tobacco, the light smoke around your fingertips.However, self-habit is not as simple as Yanyin.We've all been addicted to ourselves since time immemorial.It is the way we identify ourselves.It's our favorite, but sometimes it's our worst hate.The best we can try to prove is that it exists.Almost everything we do, think or have, including our spiritual path, is to affirm its existence.It is this self that fears failure and longs for success; fears hell and longs for heaven.The ego loathes the pain, but loves the cause of the pain.It foolishly wages war in the name of peace.It wants to be awakened, but it hates the way of awakening.It wants to do socialist work but enjoy a capitalist life.When the ego is alone, it longs for friendship.Its possessiveness over its loved ones manifests itself as passion.It may even lead to aggression.Its imaginary enemies - if designed to conquer the spiritual path of the ego - are often bought by it and recruited.Its skill at juggling subterfuge is almost impeccable.Like a silkworm, it weaves itself into the web, but unlike a silkworm, it does not know how to find its way out.