Defence of Ego/self March 9, 2013Inflation and Defence of Ego1 Listen a little bit won't do much harm, after all I will not understand it anyways. I have determined that Self/I will not understand the deeper meaning of any teaching. Counting to ten, hundred, thousands, millions, billion is within my reach. Any larger number is irrelevant to me (I). Called it infinity

Defence of Ego/I/Self I understand, but Self/I will immediately 'not understand' (unenlightened). At the lecture, I understand 10 +n and 10 -n. After the lecture, these power stuffs are useless, no application, i.e. no relevance to me (I). March 9, 2013Inflation and Defence of Ego2

Defense of Self/I/Ego (2) No harm in listening. Anyway, I won’t be able to understand 3 ) I understand but I will immediately forget March 9, 20133Inflation and Defence of Ego (1) I won’t listen

THOUGHT THOUGHT ….DISTORTED REALITY WITH BIG SELF External Stimuli

March 9, 2013Inflation and Defence of Ego5 5 CARDINAL SINS IGNORANCE HOSTILITY / ANGER GREED CONCEIT DOUBT

Overcoming Ego Awareness of the following: 1.True Consciousness 2.Life 3.Source 4.Being 5.True Identity March 9,2013Overcoming Ego6

If you can recognize illusion as an illusion, it dissolves. Ego’s survival depends on your perceiving it as reality. March 9,2013Overcoming Ego7

All Structures are unstable. Structure is the thought process underlying ego’s identification with form such as material possession, beauty, fame etc. March 9,2013Overcoming Ego8

Renouncing of all possession is an ancient spiritual practice in both East and West religions. March 9,2013Overcoming Ego9

If there is unhappiness in you, first you need to acknowledge that it is there. The primary cause of unhappiness is not the situation but your thoughts about it. Please don’t say “I am unhappy“. That is a thought. Investigate it. Separate the thought from the situation (which is neutral). You will recognize how the thought makes you unhappy. Don’t seek happiness. It is a thought. Freedom from unhappiness is attainable. March 9,2013Overcoming Ego10

5 CARDINAL SINS IGNORANCE HOSTILITY / ANGER GREED CONCEIT UNCERTAINTY 5 ENLIGHTENING TEACHINGS March 9,201311Overcoming Ego

Wisdom “God” grant us courage to change what we can, serenity to accept what we cannot change, & wisdom to know the difference. March 9,2013Overcoming Ego12

5 CARDINAL SINS IGNORANCE HOSTILITY / ANGER GREED CONCEIT UNCERTAINTY 5 ENLIGHTENING TEACHINGS Wisdom March 9,201313Overcoming Ego

March 9,2013Overcoming Ego14

Simple way to acquire serenity Where was yesterday? Where IS yesterday? Where IS tomorrow? It is in your mind. You only have NOW, be present, be here Presence = focus = concentration = Zen March 9,2013Overcoming Ego15

Zen: Concentration & Contemplation Being separate from external forms is contemplation. Not being confused inwardly is concentration. If you become attached to external forms, your mind will be confused inwardly. If you are separated from external forms, inwardly your mind will be unconfused. If the mind remains unconfused when any states is encountered, that is true concentration. The Sixth Patriarch’s Platform Sutra March 9,2013Overcoming Ego16

5 CARDINAL SINS IGNORANCE HOSTILITY / ANGER GREED CONCEIT UNCERTAINTY 5 ENLIGHTENING TEACHINGS Wisdom Serenity March 9,201317Overcoming Ego

Avoid ten evil actions 1.Killing of living beings 2.Stealing 3.Unlawful sexual misconduct 4.Lying 5.Slander and tale-bearing 6.Harsh speech 7.Frivolous and meaningless talk 8.Covetousness, or eagerly desirous especially of things belonging to others 9.Ill-will 10.Wrong view. March 9,2013Overcoming Ego18

5 CARDINAL SINS IGNORANCE HOSTILITY / ANGER GREED CONCEIT UNCERTAINTY 5 ENLIGHTENING TEACHINGS Wisdom Serenity Discipline March 9,201319Overcoming Ego

Generosity/Humility Jesus and the Widow's Offering (Mark 12:41-44) 41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. March 9,2013Overcoming Ego20

Humility Bodhidharma’s first instruction to Emperor Wu of Liang Dynasty Emperor Wu asked Bodhidarma, “All my life I have built temples, given sanction to Sangha, practiced giving, and arranged vegetarian feasts. What merit and virtue have I gained?” “None” was the reply. Why? March 9,2013Overcoming Ego21

Humility According to Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch. Inner humility is merit. Outer practice of reverence is virtue. Those who slight others, and do not cut off the “me and mine” are without merit. The vain and unreal self-nature is without merit because of the “me and mine” and because of the greatness of the “self”. March 9,2013Overcoming Ego22

Generosity & Humility How are these two stories different? March 9,2013Overcoming Ego23

5 CARDINAL SINS IGNORANCE HOSTILITY / ANGER GREED CONCEIT UNCERTAINTY 5 ENLIGHTENING TEACHINGS Wisdom Serenity Discipline Humility March 9,201324Overcoming Ego

Confidence March 9,2013Overcoming Ego25