Question asked by Joey Wong
Dear Rinpoche,
While reciting the Liberation in the Palm of your hand, I found a phrase that says “equating the self as perishable”. It describes that an ant curls up when poke due to this view. From the description, it sounds like what the ego is often described to be, yet the Lamrim covers ego and self grasping in another section. How does this view differ from self grasping and how do we differentiate it during our contemplations and identify that particular fault in our mind to stop it?
Dear Joey,
All teachings no matter what chapter eventually leads to the destruction of the self cherishing mind which is the roots of all of our problems past, present and future. Until this ‘enemy’ is rooted out in stages, we cannot see much changes within ourselves. The disciplines with our teacher (samaya), centres, dharma codes, ethics is specifically to slowly root out self cherishing. If we follow, we will see a difference. If we don’t then years can pass and we remain the same or degenerate further.
Whatever promises we have made with our teacher, sangha, centre or Three Jewels should be honoured always and that in itself is a method to changing ourselves for the better.
TR