Our Ego is a chariot.

Our Ego is a chariot.

Our Ego is a chariot..

King Milinda invited Nagasena, a Buddhist monk, to learn Buddha’s teachings.

When he arrived, he was placed in guest quarters.

A sentry knocked on his door the following day to take him to King Milinda via chariot.

But Nagasena told the sentry,” There is nothing like Nagasena here.”

The sentry was surprised to hear such a response when Nagasena stood right before him.

So, Nagasena said,” Let me not confuse you. I’ll come, but remember, there is nothing like Nagasena.”

When the chariot arrived at the palace, King Milinda greeted him.

He said,” Welcome Nagasena to my palace.”

Here also, Nagasena replied,” You are probably mistaken. There is no Nagasena.”

King Milinda was also surprised.

So, Nagasena said, “ Let me explain what I’m talking about.”

He pointed to the chariot he came in and asked,” This is a chariot, correct?”

King Milinda said,” Yes.”

Nagasena said,” Please remove the horses.”

Horses were removed. Now, the chariot was without horses.

He asked,” What do you have now?”

“A chariot without horses.” King Milinda said.

Then Nagasena said, please remove the kill and dismantle the wheels.

It was done.

Little by little, every single component, like wooden beams, nails, saddle, roof, etc, was removed, and all various parts were laid down on the ground.

Nagasena then asked,” Is there any chariot now?”

“Chariot is no more. It was there when all the components were together.” King said.

That’s when Nagasena replied,” The same thing is for Nagasena. There is nothing like Nagasena. What you call Nagasena is only a collection of many components put together.”

Our Ego is not a reality entity. It is made of many components.

The body is made from many various elements and molecules.

Our minds are made from many possessions, relationships, ideas, beliefs ( religious or non-religious), convictions, etc.

When put together, all of them make our Ego (body), and we call it “I”.

But if all the components were negated, dismantled, and sent back to their original locations where they came from, nothing would remain.

There is nothing like Ego. It’s only in belief ( and a wrong one ).

Our belief in it is our ignorance and the cause of our suffering.

Meditation takes you deep enough to make you realize that after all the components are negated, Ego remains no more.

And yet, something remains: the awareness, your soul, and your real identity, REAL YOU