なぜ自己を妄想してしまうのか？
Why Do People Delude Ourselves About the Self?
2026-09-13
In the early Buddhist scriptures of Shakyamuni Buddha, we can find the following Dharma.
916 The Master (the Buddha) answered: “Completely restrain the root of the <wrong thinking that causes delusion>, saying, <I think, therefore I exist>. In order to properly guide any delusion that exists within, always be mindful and learn.
917 Know thoroughly whatever there is, whether internally or externally. But do not become conceited because of it. For those who have reached the truth do not teach that this is peace (= Nirvana).
918 Do not think, because of this (conceit), ‘I am superior.’ Do not think, ‘I am inferior,’ nor ‘I am equal.’ Even when receiving various questions, remain free from deluding yourself about the self. (The Words of the Buddha: Sutta Nipāta, Part 4: The Chapter of the Eight Verses, 14: The Swift, translated by Hajime Nakamura, Iwanami-Bunko.)
In short, these Dharmas teach that it is difficult to attain awakening (= liberation) as long as a person is deluded about the self.
The primary reason for this is simply that, even when one encounters an occasion for awakening, it becomes difficult to connect it with attaining Buddhahood.
In short, if what the person desires is not Nirvana but merely worldly matters, then it is impossible for that person to walk this one and only path.
By the way, why do people (sentient beings) tend to delude themselves about the self?
Put plainly, this can be said to be precisely what is brought about by this name and form (nāma-rūpa), which is itself the object of liberation.
In particular, when delusion arises at what Jungian psychology calls the archetypal level, it is often accompanied by strong emotions, and it becomes almost impossible to recognize that, whether it is an inner opinion or an external object of fascination, it is nothing more than something evoked by delusion.
Nevertheless, a person of exceptional wisdom discerns the truth of people and the world, thereby becomes determined to devote themselves to walking the path that leads out of suffering, gradually accumulates merit, and finally reaches the immortal Nirvana.
For this purpose, it is in fact important to have both understanding and faith concerning the fact that everyone is equally capable of attaining awakening.
There, a person possessed of clear knowledge is able to completely restrain the root of the “wrong thinking that causes delusion.”
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