Ego in Buddhism

[Mikeler]

My understanding of the issue is that in Buddhism, ego is seen as a delusion. An illusory "self" which actually does not exist and is created by social conditioning, past experiences, etc. In essence, the ego is seen as an obstacle, or something to be removed. Again, this is my limited understanding of the subject, there is most probably a more complex explanation for this.

My question is, why is ego viewed as bad in human character? Isn't ego a requirement for having ambition and drive to succeed? If we had no ego, would we just sit around doing nothing?

This is making it too simple perhaps, but it's a question which puzzles me.

[Vivek]

Mikeler, nothing is judged as good or bad, in the path laid by the Buddha. The Enlightened One taught to see everything as they are, not as good or bad. When it is said that the self is illusory, that is an empirical truth which can be realized through one's own experience. When the truth is seen that leads to liberation. 

[Mikeler]

I have to go deeper into my practice.

I can't stop now.

I'm going through cycles of rough patches where I fall into old habits of thinking/doing which cause me suffering and then patches of "enlightenment" where I'm fully awake and out of autopilot mode.

[Dharmic Tui]

Let the knowledge of the enlightenment patches give you an understanding that your old habits are impermanent and immaterial, and don't beat yourself up when your enlightenment may fade.

[Matthew]

Mikeler,

The only way to learn to ride a bike is to learn to fall off first.



Seriously, kindly,

Matthew