Ego-Clinging (Internal Edition)¶
Overview
In the Lifechanyuan system, "ego-clinging" (我执, wǒ zhí) refers to the psychological tendency of stubbornly holding one's own views, opinions, and values to be correct. It is considered one of the root causes of suffering, conflict, and reincarnation. The principle is unambiguous: "The stronger the ego-clinging, the farther from the Tao"; "Holding fast to ego-clinging is one of the two great highways to hell." The core aim of cultivation is to relinquish ego-clinging, dissolve the small self, and move toward no-self — but "no-self" does not mean the annihilation of the self. It means moving from the "small self" to the "great self," arriving at the realization: "Only by being selfless can one become truly oneself; only by releasing the self can one realize the self."
Related entries: No-Self No-Form, Eight No-Realms, Letting Go, Inverted Dreams, Self-Coherence, Zero State
I. Definition and Nature¶
(i) The Core Definition — Believing You Are Right Is Ego-Clinging¶
To hold fast to ego-clinging is to insist that you are right. As long as you insist you are right, do not worry — you will certainly be heading toward hell.
Whether you are a president, a billionaire, a celebrity, a master, an expert, a scholar, or an ordinary person — the moment you stubbornly hold your views, opinions, values, measures, paths, methods, conclusions, and judgments to be correct, you are proving that you are walking toward hell.
(Source: Xuefeng Corpus · Warning Volume · The Heavier the Ego-Clinging, the Closer to Hell)
Ego-views harm the heart; cleverness obstructs the Tao. Understand events and delusion dissolves; settle the nature and action aligns.
(Source: New Era Humanity Eight Hundred Concepts, Fourth Edition · Article 176)
(ii) The Stronger the Ego-Clinging, the Farther from the Tao — One of the Eight Secrets of Life¶
The eight great secrets of life: … seventh, the stronger the ego-clinging, the farther from the Tao …
(Source: New Era Humanity Eight Hundred Concepts, Fourth Edition · Article 32)
Until ego-clinging and ego-views die away, even carved timber remains a useless plank. The highest mountains and rivers to cross are ego-clinging and ego-views. Suffering and fear arise from the fixed views and biases of consciousness.
(Source: New Era Humanity Eight Hundred Concepts, Fourth Edition · Article 273)
(iii) Ego-Clinging as the Root of Trouble and Suffering¶
Much of life's trouble and suffering comes from ego-clinging — from clinging to rigid positions — exhausting one's mind without knowing it, squandering precious years without realizing it, sitting in a prison while having entirely forgotten that one is a prisoner.
(Source: Xuefeng Corpus · Inspiration Volume · Relinquish Ego-Clinging, Continuously Transcend, Grasp the Core, Approach Truth)
II. Manifestations of Ego-Clinging¶
(i) Insisting You Are Right in Everything¶
The most foolish and stupid people in this world are those who nitpick over every little thing — people with severe ego-clinging.
(Source: Chanyuan Corpus · Human Life Volume · The Hidden Mystery Behind Unemployment)
Attachment is the mark of rigid thinking.
(Source: New Era Humanity Eight Hundred Concepts, Fourth Edition · Article 126)
(ii) Ego-Clinging in Marriage¶
Survey the history of marital relationships globally, both ancient and modern — to put it conservatively, ninety-five percent of marriages are inharmonious. Why? One reason is ego-clinging: the husband wants the wife to listen to him; the wife wants the husband to listen to her. A whole lifetime is consumed in bickering over trivial matters, each holding to their own position — where is harmony to be found?
(Source: Chanyuan Corpus · Cultivation Practice Volume · Non-Attachment Is a Gateway to Unbounded Freedom)
(iii) The Outward Form of Ego-Clinging — Always Wanting to Correct Others¶
Always wanting to correct others, always wanting others to act according to your intentions — that is ego-clinging.
(Source: Chanyuan Corpus · Cultivation Practice Volume · The Inner Meaning of No-Self, No-Selfishness, No-Attachment)
In a group, whoever is responsible and accountable is the one whose word carries. If you insist that the person in charge must listen to you — that is ego-clinging.
(Source: Chanyuan Corpus · Cultivation Practice Volume · The Inner Meaning of No-Self, No-Selfishness, No-Attachment)
(iv) The Life-State of "Having a Self"¶
When there is a self, every path is strewn with thorns and snares; when there is no self, every path opens into clear skies and blossoming vistas.
When there is a self, life is a brutal contest and battle; when there is no self, life is an interesting journey.
When there is a self, one drifts toward the lower realms of LIFE; when there is no self, one rises toward the higher realms of LIFE.
(Source: Chanyuan Corpus · Cultivation Practice Volume · No-Self Is the Advanced State of LIFE)
III. The Goal of "Relinquishing Ego-Clinging" — The True Meaning of No-Self¶
(i) "No-Self" Means Moving from the Small Self to the Great Self, Not Annihilation¶
The self has a "small self" and a "great self." The "small self" experiences endless suffering and hardship; the "great self" experiences boundless joy and happiness. The goal of our cultivation practice is precisely this movement from "small self" to "great self." Pursuing a purely empty "no-self" is heading toward dead emptiness, toward passivity, toward extinction.
(Source: Chanyuan Corpus · Wisdom Volume · All Dharmas Have a Self)
The Buddha taught us to have "no-self-form" — this was intended to inspire us first to release ego-clinging. Only by discarding the fixed views, biases, and narrow opinions of the "self" can one perceive the original face of things, perceive the self-nature of the Tathagata … and the ultimate purpose of all this is to serve the true self.
(Source: Chanyuan Corpus · Wisdom Volume · All Dharmas Have a Self)
(ii) Relinquishing Ego-Clinging, Entering Hundun — Receiving the Visa to the Kingdom¶
To receive the "visa" for the Thousand-Year World, the Ten-Thousand-Year World, or the Elysium World, one must relinquish the self and enter the hundun state. … What is required is releasing ego-clinging. If you are convinced your understanding is completely correct and flawless, then you will proceed step by step toward apparent correctness and ultimate error — entering illusory thinking, forever unable to escape the desert of LIFE or the "spider's cave" of reincarnation.
(Source: New Era Humanity Eight Hundred Concepts, Fourth Edition · Article 486)
(iii) Abandoning Doing "Oneself" — The Teaching of All Saints, Sages, Celestials, and Buddhas¶
Cultivation practice (xiūxíng) means cultivating away the self in order to walk forward; spiritual refinement (xiūliàn) means refining away the self in order to forge ahead. If one refuses to refine away the self — insisting on being oneself — one will never understand what it means to become a celestial being, a buddha, or a deity, and will never ascend to the pinnacle of life and LIFE.
When there is no self, green hills and clear waters appear everywhere, clear skies and fresh breezes fill every moment. With others there is no friction; one can attain the unity of humanity and heaven, the unity with the Tao.
Every conflict and contradiction arises because someone insists on being themselves. If one stops insisting on being oneself — dissolving oneself into the other — where is conflict to come from?
(Source: Xuefeng Corpus · Essay Volume · Abandoning "Being Oneself" Is the Supreme Path of Cultivation)
IV. Cultivation Practice: How to Break Through Ego-Clinging¶
(i) Humility and Continuous Transcendence¶
We need humility; we need to relinquish ego-clinging; we need to continuously transcend ourselves. Without grasping the core, one can never approach truth.
(Source: Xuefeng Corpus · Inspiration Volume · Relinquish Ego-Clinging, Continuously Transcend, Grasp the Core, Approach Truth)
(ii) The Eight "No-Self" Practices of Non-Attachment¶
First, when benefit is in front of you, do not step forward, do not reach out … Seventh, act by listening to the voice of your heart; do not make choices, do not set goals for yourself. Human intelligence is almost zero in the face of the Greatest Creator, so resolutely have no ego-clinging — do not insist this is right and that is wrong … Eighth, face death at any moment … If every day you contemplate that tomorrow the sun may never rise again for you, will there still be a "self"?
(Source: Xuefeng Corpus · Essay Volume · How to Have No Self)
(iii) Non-Attachment Means Letting Others Live Out Themselves¶
Attachment to one's own perceptions, opinions, and views is an ocean of suffering on the journey of life … Suffering and fear arise from the fixed views and biases of consciousness.
Without attachment, strive to live out yourself, and also let others live out themselves.
(Source: Chanyuan Corpus · Cultivation Practice Volume · Non-Attachment Is a Gateway to Unbounded Freedom)
(iv) Ego-Clinging Unremoved, Thorns Everywhere — An Illustrative Account¶
When there is no self, the road ahead is sunny and gentle; when there is a self, everywhere is thorns and spears.
(Source: Guide's Other Articles · 2024 · Ego-Clinging Unremoved, Thorns Everywhere)
(v) Releasing the Self, Returning to Zero, Starting Fresh Each Day¶
Return to zero at any moment. No matter how many good deeds and meritorious acts you have done for others and the public in the past — let them go immediately. Never expect repayment; never crave reward. Begin each day from zero.
(Source: Xuefeng Corpus · Essay Volume · How to Have No Self)
V. The Ultimate State: No-Self — Heart Open, Spirit Soaring¶
(i) Self Entirely Lost — Heart Open, Spirit Soaring (The Highest Realm of Cultivation)¶
"The self entirely lost — heart open, spirit soaring" … The "self" is a demon; it is the "self" that blocks our path to supreme bliss. The stronger the "self," the farther from heaven.
(Source: Chanyuan Corpus · Cultivation Practice Volume · Self Entirely Lost, Heart Open, Spirit Soaring)
No-self is the true self, so releasing the self is how the self is realized. The highest and most wondrous self is no-self.
(Source: Chanyuan Corpus · Cultivation Practice Volume · No-Self Is the Advanced State of LIFE)
(ii) Selflessness Fulfills the Self; No-Self Realizes the Self¶
Only by being selfless can one become truly oneself; only by releasing the self can one realize the self. The more selfish one is, the more wretched; the more self-centered, the worse things become.
(Source: Chanyuan Corpus · Human Life Volume · Giving Is the Life of Wise People)
Release the self, and you will find it; cling to the self, and you will ultimately lose it.
(Source: New Era Humanity Eight Hundred Concepts, Fourth Edition · Article 325)
(iii) No-Selfishness, No-Self, No-Attachment — The Most Advanced State of LIFE¶
The most fundamental work in raising LIFE's frequency is the building of the soul garden … ultimately arriving at the most advanced state of LIFE: no-selfishness, no-self, no-attachment.
(Source: Chanyuan Corpus · LIFE Volume · Eight Pathways to Raising LIFE Frequency)
Compiled by: Lingzhou Cao Date: 2026-05-03 Independent Quotations: ~20