The practice of Zen involves letting go of the ego from "summary" of The Way of Zen by Alan Watts
Zen is a way of liberation, an awakening that does not depend on dogma or belief; it is a practice that involves the experience of enlightenment here and now. One of the central aspects of Zen is the idea of letting go of the ego, the sense of self that we cling to so tightly. This ego is the source of all our suffering and delusion, as it creates a barrier between ourselves and the world around us. When we let go of the ego, we are able to see things as they truly are, without the distortion of our own desires and fears. This is not to say that the ego disappears entirely, but rather that we no longer identify with it as the true self. Instead, we come to see that our true nature is beyond the ego, beyond all concepts and distinctions. In Zen practice, this letting go of the ego is often symbolized by the act of "killing the ego," a dramatic and radical gesture that signifies the complete abandonment of the self. This is not meant to be taken literally, but rather as a metaphor for the process of releasing our attachment to the ego and all its limitations.- We are able to open ourselves up to a deeper reality, one that is not bound by the constraints of the self. This is the essence of Zen practice: to let go of the ego and awaken to the true nature of reality. In this way, we are able to experience a sense of freedom and liberation that is beyond words or concepts.
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