October 2, 2025
Embrace, Surrender, Open
Searching for a solid and persisting self may quickly reveal the Buddhist truth of not-self—that no concrete and eternal soul exists when everything is both interdependent and impermanent. But confronting the emotions, history, and habits that combine to create a sense of self may be more challenging. We might fear what we’ll uncover, or we might find the effort painful or even futile. A Tibetan Buddhist story about eleventh-century yogi Milarepa shows us that facing our full “selves” isn’t just helpful but essential.
In the story, Milarepa leaves the cave where he lives to collect firewood and returns to find a host of demons. After failing to scare them away, he decides to sit with them and teach the dharma. When still no demons leave, he opens himself to what they might teach him, inviting each demon to share one by one. All but one demon disappears, and then Milarepa surrenders even further by putting his head in the remaining demon’s mouth. Then that demon vanishes.
In addition to reminding us that every moment, especially facing foes, is an opportunity to cultivate compassion, the story about Milarepa illustrates that giving in, or “moving from willfulness to willingness,” can be as powerful as exerting control.
This week’s Three Teachings explores the benefits of facing our own demons and effective ways of doing so. | 
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