Dharma as an Ego Boost

[studyreligions]

Most recently, I have been thinking about the way the ego sneaks in our Dharma practice. For example, the more knowledge I gain, there is the danger of it becoming mere knowledge to show off, to look holy shmoly as Tsem Rinpoche puts it, but in reality, it has not become one with my mind stream. I can say yeah yeah... I know the lam rim, sure... precious human rebirth, and death and impermanence, basic stuff. But, when I do Dharma with the 8 worldly concerns for praise or reputation, this turns my Dharma practice into the causes and conditions for samsara... and when Dharma study/practice/knowledge becomes a cause for samsara/ego boost, where can liberation be found. I can only hope it plants the seeds to be able to gain direct realizations in the future and not plants more seeds for ego weeds in our garden of Dharma. The only cause for using Dharma as an ego boost is that I haven't truly realized death and impermanence.

[studyreligions]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsnoJEwXjyM&feature=related

[Crazywisdom]

Sometimes when i think i have made some progress with the Dharma it turns out that its like i've just peeled a layer of an onion, theres more of the same delusion and ego beneath!

Jon

[studyreligions]

Great analogy Jon! same here lol

[wmw111]

Stay grounded, sometimes interacting with other people can help give clues to who we are right now?

Do we get them to commit more in dharma or we turn them away ?   

Of course if you have a lay sangha to support and more senior people around they can be of help too.