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Isn't the initiating desire of the ego-mind that leads us to enlightenment?
After studying Buddhism for quite a while, I realized this. Who is it but the ego-mind that first shows interest in Buddhism, in order to cease suffering in a person’s life and the life of others? So, the person begins to study Buddhism and begins to practice and meditate. Then the person realizes the nature of the ego-mind that is full of desires and tries to discard it in a 'noble' way following the eightfold path. But isn't it the ego mind that first lead the person to the study of the Dharma? Wouldn't it be wiser to befriend the ego-mind in the course of the transformation of the person and make peace with it rather than engage a war against it? What is your opinion on that subject?
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buddhism in short is about total acceptance of all things and the wisdom from seeing reality as it is rather than seeing it from our subjective filters.
The moment you start thinking, 'who is it but the ego mind'... then indeed, 'it is who but the ego mind'....
And @genkaku, I agree with that teacher....
Cheers....
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Yes, agreement is easy. It's the actualization part that can twist your knickers.
There is no spiritual path that will not twist your knickers if you take it seriously. My agreement with that teachers comes from my experience and realizations of my own spiritual path...
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"Monks, I will teach you the Dhamma compared to a raft, for the purpose of crossing over, not for the purpose of holding onto. Listen and pay close attention. I will speak."
"As you say, lord," the monks responded to the Blessed One.
The Blessed One said: "Suppose a man were traveling along a path. He would see a great expanse of water, with the near shore dubious and risky, the further shore secure and free from risk, but with neither a ferryboat nor a bridge going from this shore to the other. The thought would occur to him, 'Here is this great expanse of water, with the near shore dubious and risky, the further shore secure and free from risk, but with neither a ferryboat nor a bridge going from this shore to the other. What if I were to gather grass, twigs, branches, and leaves and, having bound them together to make a raft, were to cross over to safety on the other shore in dependence on the raft, making an effort with my hands and feet?' Then the man, having gathered grass, twigs, branches, and leaves, having bound them together to make a raft, would cross over to safety on the other shore in dependence on the raft, making an effort with his hands and feet. Having crossed over to the further shore, he might think, 'How useful this raft has been to me! For it was in dependence on this raft that, making an effort with my hands and feet, I have crossed over to safety on the further shore. Why don't I, having hoisted it on my head or carrying on my back, go wherever I like?' What do you think, monks: Would the man, in doing that, be doing what should be done with the raft?"
"No, lord."
"And what should the man do in order to be doing what should be done with the raft? There is the case where the man, having crossed over, would think, 'How useful this raft has been to me! For it was in dependence on this raft that, making an effort with my hands and feet, I have crossed over to safety on the further shore. Why don't I, having dragged it on dry land or sinking it in the water, go wherever I like?' In doing this, he would be doing what should be done with the raft. In the same way, monks, I have taught the Dhamma compared to a raft, for the purpose of crossing over, not for the purpose of holding onto. Understanding the Dhamma as taught compared to a raft, you should let go even of Dhammas, to say nothing of non-Dhammas."
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So the raft can be cimpared to our ego. It's needed to cross over the river but once there its to be abandoned
There is the case where a monk generates desire, endeavors, arouses persistence, upholds & exerts his intent:
* for the sake of the non-arising of evil, unskillful qualities that have not yet arisen...
* for the sake of the abandoning of evil, unskillful qualities that have arisen...
* for the sake of the arising of skillful qualities that have not yet arisen...(and)
* for the maintenance, non-confusion, increase, plenitude, development, & culmination of skillful qualities that have arisen.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sacca/sacca4/samma-vayamo/
The Kadampa Geshe's have a saying that their primary job is to Harm delusions as much as possible and benefit others as much as possible we should follow their advise and never develop patience toward self-cherishing and its stemming minds as being patient with these minds will causes us to prolong our suffering. We need to be motivated to destroy these minds I cannot stress this enough they are the only enemy we have and their only function is to harm us.
Acceptance is the only freedom because acceptance is unconditional. The false will go away on its own. When you reject or ignore the power of clinging to yourself grows. Accept and where can it hide?