Buddha's Third Noble Truth talks about extinguishing the self. How do we go about doing that though? I never thought much of that idea since hearing it forty odd years ago . Granted, eliminating the 'self' would do the trick, but simply 'doing' it seemed impractical. I always figured that the Eight Fold Path was the 'doing' part which would lead to extinguishing the self.

However, by putting the idea of extinguishing the self in the context of belief, it actually makes practical sense. Then, in fact, it is very easy to understand and very easy to put into practice. Simply don't believe in the self - your self. This requires no effort, no thinking, no skill, no learning, no money, no friends, no teachers, no knowledge. Perhaps it only requires 'self' honesty. On the other hand, of course, perhaps self honest is only possible as we drop our belief in self. And this may be why no one in the world can understand them or put them into practice.

Ironically, we know way more than we think (believe), yet think (believe) way more than we know. And so yes, therefore even the sage treats some things as difficult.