The Greatest Game of Ego

The greatest game one could play is the game against oneself. It might be easy or hard to defeat someone else, but it is nearly impossible to beat yourself in your own game; when you do, you know what you need to know. That is the message only to you.

However, the first question is, how can you beat yourself in your own game? How to even play? Simple, lose your ego. Separate your thoughts from yourself. It might not be as easy as it sounds, but it is easier than you might think. I do remember the story of Buddha.

Once upon a time, Buddha was teaching under a tree in a well-lit moonlight. It was a full moon night, and Buddha declared, “Attaining enlightenment is the easiest thing in this world. How easy, you might ask. Can you all see that beautiful moon? Attaining enlightenment is as easy as looking at the moon.” As usual, this stirred up confusion, and everyone was so thrilled to hear this. One of the villagers approached Buddha and asked, “If this enlightenment is such a simple thing, how come nobody but a few like yourself has ever attained it?”

Buddha smiled and told the villager he would answer tomorrow night, but before that, he had to complete one simple task for Buddha. Buddha asked, “You must visit every villager’s home tomorrow and ask them what they want today and take note of that.” The villager agreed; after all, it was Buddha who asked.

The next day the villager went about every home in the village and asked what they needed right now. Everyone wanted something: one wanted an ax, one wanted a piece of jewelry, one wanted a good dress, and so on. The villager collected this information, and that evening he visited the Buddha’s teaching place. Again, Buddha was there teaching, and this villager approached Buddha, and Buddha smiled at him and asked if he was able to complete the task. The villager nodded.

Then Buddha asked, “Tell me, friend, how many have told you they wanted enlightenment?” That villager was in shock. Nobody had told him they wanted enlightenment. Everyone wanted something, but none wanted enlightenment.

Then Buddha replied, “You see, my friend, attaining enlightenment is as easy as looking at the beautiful moon, but I didn’t say everyone wanted to look at the moon. That is why I am here, so I can show you where the moon is, and if you are willing to be enlightened, then you can be with ease. There is nothing that
can stop you except yourself.”

This story tells us an important message – let yourself go of yourself. Let your thoughts be separate from yourself. Observe yourself as you could observe the environment. Learn from yourself as you could learn from your master.

In the end, let yourself be your master.