We’ve Always Done It This Way

Efficiency experts must hear this on every job they do: “We’ve always done it this way.” For example, let’s say an efficiency expert is examining a company’s accounts payable process. The expert probably begins by asking one of the A/P clerks, “What steps do you go through to get an invoice/bill paid?”

And let’s say A/P person says, “First I put a ‘date received’ stamp on it, then I write down the G/L (General Ledger) account(s) on it, and then I route the bill to supervisor of the department the bill is for. After they sign off on it, it goes to their manager for approval and then it goes to their manager for approval. They log in the date they sign off on it and then it’s routed back to me. I enter the invoice into the accounting system and depending on the terms of the invoice, a check is cut.”

The efficiency expert no doubt asks, “Why do three different people have to approve paying the bill?” And then if there isn’t a legitimate, logical answer, the clerk says, “We’ve always done it that way.” But what if the company is paying abnormally high amount of late charges, upsetting vendors due to slow pay rates, and delaying the beginning of company projects because vendors wait for payment of their invoices before performing services or delivering goods?

Just because something has been done in a certain way for a long time doesn’t mean it’s the best way to do it. Likewise just because you’ve always thought in a certain way, say you’ve assumed there is a “me” or “I” that is your true self, doesn’t mean it’s the truth. The Buddhist concept of “no one thing” or “not self”, is explained on Wikipedia as follows:

“…the term anattā(Pāli) or anātman(Sanskrit:अनात्मन्) refers to the notion of “not-self” or the illusion of “self“. In the early texts, the Buddhacommonly uses the word in the context of teaching that all things perceived by the senses (including the mental sense) are not really “I” or “mine”, and for this reason one should not cling to them.

In the same vein, the Palisuttas(and parallel āgamas, both referred to collectively below as the nikāyas), categorize the phenomena experienced by a being into five groups (“khandhas“) that serve as the objects of clinging and as the basis for a sense of self. In the Nikāyas, the Buddha repeatedly emphasizes not only that the five khandhas of living beings are “not-self”, i.e. not “I” or “mine”, but also that clinging to them as if they were “I” or “mine” gives rise to unhappiness.

According to the early texts, while on the path, one should develop oneself in healthy and liberating ways, only letting go of the attempt to improve the self as it becomes unnecessary.”

I challenge you to, preferably while you’re meditating or taking a quiet, peaceful walk, contemplate this question: IF THERE IS A “ME” OR “I”, WHERE IS IT? And the follow-up question: CAN I PROVE THE EXISTENCE OF MY SUPPOSED SELF? If you can find the location of your self and/or prove the existence of your unique, permanent and special self, by all means email leeman999@yahoo.com or call me (651-212-3825) immediately. I am dying to know the answers.

Also think about, if it’s true there is no “you” that needs to be fed, pampered, protected, and constantly entertained, how liberating that is. It makes the world so much more fluid, solutions to challenges easier, focusing on the ever-shifting Now easier because you’re not looking over your shoulder to see how “you” are doing, and so on.

Like many things in life, although enlightenment is simple, it can also be incredibly challenging to achieve. Changing the way one views the world isn’t automatic. Your ego-generated pride will insist everything is fine and that you should ignore any attempts to change the status quo.

And BTW, you haven’t always thought this way. As a young child, you didn’t worry about protecting your self-image/reputation. You didn’t hesitate before acting because you were concerned about how it would make you look in others’ eyes. You were spontaneous, joyful, playful and generous. You were taught about me and I.

My book, “Overcome Any Personal Obstacle, Including Alcoholism, By Understanding Your Ego” – http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/leewriter – is a Buddhist-inspired publication that features the Seven Insights of Enlightened and also traces the root cause of the Seven Deadly Sins to an overly strong ego.