Patrul Rinoche tells some wonderful stories about a monk called Geshe Ben. Reproaching the ego was one of his main practices. He specialized in catching himself getting hooked. One day some partons invited Geshe Ben for a meal. After it was over, he was left alone in the room with a big bag of flour. Without thinking, he put his cup in the bag and started to take some for his journey. With his hand in the bag he exclaimed, "Ben, look what you're doing!", Then he shouted, "Thief! Thief!" The patrons rushed in to find him standing there, his hand still in the flour, yellling, '"I've caught him! I've caught him! I've caught the thief red-handed!" That's the spirit of reproach. Including a sense of humor is what allows it to work.

Pema Chodron, "The Places That Scare You"