Making Ego Insignificant
​Making the ego insignificant involves reducing the influence of self-centered thoughts and behaviors and allowing for a more humble approach to life. This process can lead to improved relationships, greater personal growth, and a deeper sense of inner peace.
Ego Stunts Our Spiritual Growth
Ananda was a cousin of the great buddha. When buddha attained enlightenment, Ananda decided to spend all his time with him. Before taking initiation, he wanted to make sure that Buddha would not treat him at par with the other disciples and that he would retain his special status as the elder cousin brother of Buddha.
So Ananda said to buddha - “being my younger brother it is your duty to obey me after initiation you shall become my master and i shall be your disciple. So I shall not be able to ask you anything or command you. So let me ask you for some things now before initiation.”
"As you please ananda,” Buddha replied.
“First wish, I will always be with you, you should never talk to anyone in secret, u shall never send me away. Secondly, if I want to meet anyone at any time of the day or night, you shall not refuse to do so. Lastly, you and i will always sleep in the same room, I want to be always with you. Don't forget these wishes of mine. Now initiate me into buddhism”.
Ananda became Buddha's shadow and followed him everywhere. Many years later, One day, Buddha decleared - “ It is time for me to depart now, by dusk tomorrow I shall be gone. Call all the monks so that I shall address them one last time.” By dawn next day all of them gathered around Buddha. All of them were calm and composed. No one was crying or in grief all except Ananda, Who had lived every moment of his life in the physical presence of Buddha.
“ Why are you crying ananda, I fulfilled all your promises ?”- questioned Buddha.
Ananda wailed - “ Oh lord what shall become of me. I did all that you did and still didn't attain enlightenment. Without you my life shall be hopeless. What shall I do without you oh lord ?
“When you asked me for three wishes I knew that they would be a barrier to your spiritual progress. But you were not willing to forget that I was your younger sibling. You wanted to retain your privileges over others. Your surrender was conditional perhaps my death shall make it unconditional.”
Buddha left his mortal coil. All enlightened monks congregated, Ananda was recked completely. Ananda was no where near enlightenment. As Ananda shed tears of agony. He had seen everything and yet not seen. He had drunk the nectar and yet not tasted it. In the midst of hundreds of monks, Ananda found himself to be absolutely alone. This helplessness of his existed state raised a question within him. For the first time he felt a void within himself. He became aware of his ego and arrogance. A silence loomed around him as he realized that his master had left him and he was alone.
As he delved into this silence alone, he felt a transformation taking place. What had not happen in 42 years in Buddha's presence happened in one night of self introspection, Ananda became enlightened.
MORAL OF THE STORY
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​Living with the lord is not enough, be with the lord for being with him. Be aware of his presence at all times . Feel him with you in all that you do.
A Cup full of Tea
A famous professor once visited a Zen master to learn about Zen philosophy. The professor talked at length about everything he had studied and learned, boasting of his knowledge. The Zen master quietly listened and then invited the professor to have tea.
The master began pouring tea into the professor’s cup. As the tea reached the brim, the master continued pouring, causing it to overflow. The professor exclaimed, “Stop! The cup is full! It cannot hold any more!”
The Zen master smiled and said, “Exactly. Like this cup, your mind is full—full of your own opinions, knowledge, and ego. How can I teach you Zen unless you first empty your cup?”
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MORAL OF THE STORY
Ego blocks learning: When you think you already know everything, you leave no room for growth.
Be humble and open: Let go of ego to gain new wisdom and perspectives.
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The Elephant and the Rope
In a village, a man saw an elephant tied to a small wooden stake with a thin rope. The elephant, despite its immense strength, made no attempt to break free. Puzzled, the man asked the elephant’s trainer, “Why doesn’t the elephant pull free? It could easily break the rope!”
The trainer replied, “When the elephant was young, we tied it with this same rope. At that age, it couldn’t break free and believed it was powerless. Now, as an adult, it still holds onto that belief.”
The man realized that the elephant’s belief in its limitations was holding it back—not the rope.
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MORAL OF THE STORY
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Ego convinces us we already know our limits: Growth happens when we challenge those beliefs.
Let go of self-imposed constraints: True potential is realized when we release the ego’s fear of failure.