The local sitting group was having the usual post meditation cuppa and a chat and the subject of the ego fighting back when the mind calms and the grok of the concept of annata is close. It seems the ego sees this as a threat and fights back either with mental distraction or actual physical symptoms. Certainly, since I started practicing seriously, I have had bouts of kidney stones and other ailments that have tried to deter me from sitting 🙂 I am not alone and another member of the groups mentioned similar physical manifestations.
In Buddhism, the “evil one” is represented by Mara and this brings me to the point where perhaps Mara can be seen as an internal conflict between ego & oneness rather than an external entity.
Rock on regardless….