This, of course, is a bad thing. If this were not already confusing enough, ego in Asian philosophy is understood differently. To this end, efforts have been devoted in Asian philosophy to cultivating what we might call a technology of the inner world ways of thinking that are able to cultivate peaceful and harmonious states of mind. There is more. Western philosophy promises to help us to come to self-knowledge first to identify our inner thought structures, and then to replace them with better ones.
Asian philosophy has a different slant.
It also aspires to help us come to self-knowledge, helping us to identify our inner thought structures. The difference, however, is that it does this not so that we can choose better ones, but so that we can learn how to leave thought behind altogether. In short, the ultimate promise of Asian philosophy is to lead us beyond thinking into the higher capacity of awareness to engage in direct knowing. There is a great saying about enlightenment Before enlightenment chop wood and carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.