WHAT HAPPENED TO EGO?

Student: How can you distinguish between ego-based self-confidence
and trust in oneself?

Chogyam Trungpa: Ego doesn't cut its own ground. Ego nurses its
ground. An egoless experience like prajna, or discriminating
awareness, cuts its own ground. That's where the irritation and
resentment come from. Within the realm of resentment, a soft heart
begins to develop, softness toward oneself. The softer you become
toward yourself, the more you want to cut your ground. Somehow the
question of ego doesn't apply at that point. Ego is already
dissipating and has given up its hold on you. This is an organic
thing that happens slowly in your practice. Somebody might ask you
later, "What happened to your ego?" And you might say, "Oh, I never
thought about that."

From "Giving Birth to Intellect," in ILLUSION'S GAME: The Life and
Teaching of Naropa. Page 83.

All material by Chogyam Trungpa is copyright Diana J. Mukpo and used
by permission.

OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE WEEK now has 5,983 subscribers.

Please send comments on and contributions to OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES
OF THE WEEK to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian at: carolyn@shambhala.com.

Carolyn Rose Gimian

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week: teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Taken from works published by Shambhala Publications, the Archive of
his unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
TO SUBSCRIBE visit the Chogyam Trungpa website by clicking on the
following link: http://OceanofDharma.com