5 CARDINAL SINS IGNORANCE HOSTILITY / ANGER GREED CONCEIT UNCERTAINTY

1. 5 ENLIGHTENING TEACHINGS Wisdom Serenity Discipline Humility Confidence 5 CARDINAL SINS IGNORANCE HOSTILITY / ANGER GREED CONCEIT UNCERTAINTY Overcoming Ego

2. Identification with things • Identification with things e.g. the toy is the context (content). How the toy becomes part of “I” identity is the structure. Inflation and Defence of Ego

3. Identification with things • Later, instead of toys, my cars, my house and my life become part of “I”. How meaningful are these when death is near Inflation and Defence of Ego

4. Identification with things • Identification with body, gender & physical appearance: We can see this clearly with the TV Commercials that push beauty products. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4eXTrievQQ Inflation and Defence of Ego

5. Identification with Status and fame • Identification with status: Holier than others, i.e. bigger ego, e.g. Bible story – lesson of the widow’s mites. • Identification with fame: Ego needs to feel superior, e.g. movie stars, sport stars. Inflation and Defence of Ego

6. Characteristics of Ego • Ego lives through comparison: chasing wealth and fame, e.g. Inflation and Defence of Ego

7. Characteristics of Ego • Ego tends to equate “Having” with “Being”. I have therefore I am. But its satisfaction in having is relatively short lived. Why? Because form is never permanent. • Ego is greedy and always wants more: Wanting is structural, so no amount of content can fulfill it, e.g. Ego always wants something from other people or situations. The hidden agenda is “ a sense of not enough yet”. The underlying emotions is fear. Again because identification with form is never permanent. Inflation and Defence of Ego

8. Characteristics of Ego • Ego wants to be “right”: Even some religious practice cannot rise above this, e.g. • 1. Catholic church Inquisition and Reformation • 2. Islamic jihad Inflation and Defence of Ego

9. Characteristics of Ego • Ego does not want peace. It wants drama and conflicts, e.g. action movies. • Ego loves complaining and resentment: to feel superior, to feel important, e.g name calling, shouting and physical violence. Inflation and Defence of Ego

10. Characteristics of Ego • Ego likes role playing: e.g. villain (temper tantrum), victim (seeking sympathy and pity), lover (falling in love – intensification of egoist wanting and needing), self definite roles in society (priest, doctor, farmer, merchant). So “you” are not relating to that person at all, but who “you” think you are is relating to who “you” think the other person is and vice versa. Inflation and Defence of Ego

11. Characteristics of Ego • Parental role: don’t disappoint me. I sacrificed so much for you. Parents know best. Don’t fight them. Ego will take up a defensive position. Recognize that you are dealing with their egoist self and not their true self. • Ego can also takes things personally, e.g. “ Believe me, I know”, “Why don’t you believe me?” The action can be defensive, even aggressive. Inflation and Defence of Ego

12. Collective Ego • Collective ego can act like individual ego, e.g. war, national conflicts. Inflation and Defence of Ego

13. Characteristics of Ego • Ego leads to greed. • Ego feeds hostility • Ego is stubborn, ignorant. Inflation and Defence of Ego

14. 5 ENLIGHTENING TEACHINGS WISDOM SERENITY DISCIPLINE HUMILITY CONFIDENCE 5 CARDINAL SINS IGNORANCE HOSTILITY / ANGER GREED CONCEIT UNCERTAINTY Overcoming Ego

15. Beyond Ego  Give up self to seek True Consciousness • Buddha are exceedingly insatiable, unyielding and unwavering beings. • Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva is insatiable in liberating all beings from hell. • Buddhas are antagonistic to suffering and extremely persistent (immovable) in trying to guide sentinel beings. • Their goal is for the salvation of others and not for themselves. • Greed  insatiable ideal of utopia • Hostility  antagonistic to suffering • Conceit  immovable, unwavering grand vow Overcoming Ego