Weapons of Ego Destruction.
Tibetan Buddhism includes practices so powerful that they can lead to enlightenment in a single lifetime. Practitioners lift each weapon to symbolically destroy mental obstacles to spiritual progress. Each weapon has a specific purpose. The axe cuts through negative thoughts, the handcuffs control the ego, and the skull club crushes bad habits. The bow and arrow reinforce wisdom and compassion—the positive qualities that motivate all activities aimed at enlightenment.
The Tibetan Buddhists have identified negative thoughts, emphasis on ego or self, bad habits, as well as ignorance and lack of compassion as the fundamental impediments to individual spiritual growth. What characteristic or characteristics hold you back in your own spiritual growth?