INTROSPECTION IS NECESSARY TO SET ASIDE EGO

The ego is the element that makes a person dance like a monkey and causes them to go through the cycle of 84 lakh births. This ego is born out of ignorance. What is that ignorance? Considering oneself as the body. Only after its end can one have an encounter with that supreme divine element.

 

We all know that we are soul and this is body, etc., but when it comes to believing, we consider ourselves only as a body. And because of this belief, all the troubles start.

 

According to the Gita, ego means the sense of "I" and "mine". It is the state in which a person identifies himself with the body, mind, and senses and thinks that these are all that there is. The ego is primarily related to ignorance of the reality of the soul and attachment to the material world.

TYPES OF EGO AND HOW TO DEAL WITH IT

Tamasic ego – is cruel and blind. It is in its nature to harm itself. The one who is Tamogudi says that everyone should respect me, and the whole world should be under my feet. The feeling of considering oneself more important than others, despite being ignorant, is called the Tamasic Ego.

 

Rajasic ego – is selfish. It harms itself as well as others. The feeling that arises towards oneself due to being the owner of worldly or material things is called Rajasic ego.

 

Sattvic ego – is creative and is in its nature to protect. If you cannot surrender, at least have a Sattvic ego, because a Sattvic ego is always ready to sacrifice. And if you surrender while doing bhajans, an ego will develop that we belong only to God. In other words, the feeling that arises towards oneself after having complete knowledge is called the Satvik ego; this feeling is of God.

People also become arrogant about fame, reputation, wealth, riches, prosperity, special power, etc. Arrogance also occurs in the state of confusion when nothing happens. Like, there is no one like my son. If I am not there, no one will get inspiration. What I have, no one has it. If I do not do this, the company will not run without me. One is the arrogance of power. Oh, how could he say that to me?  I am also something.

 

The most important thing is to be aware of your thoughts, feelings, and actions, as well as regularly reflect on your behavior, where your ego may dominate your interactions. By becoming more aware and conscious of your thoughts and actions, you will gradually be able to reduce your ego.

THE EGO ALSO AFFECTS A PERSON’s PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE

 

The ego has a foul smell which others feel. As soon as the ego appears, intelligence and wisdom go to the side. The ego also affects a person's personal and professional life. The pages of history record the destruction of egoists. From Duryodhan to Ravan, their ego was at its peak, but in the end, they had to be defeated by Dharma. Ravan had many qualities, but due to his ego, his intellect was corrupted. The truth is that the reason for all his miseries was his ego, due to which he destroyed his family and lineage.

 

Ravana's wife, Mandodari, requested him to return Sita to Rama with full respect and apologize for his actions, but Ravana rejected his wife's proposal, saying that he is the conqueror of the world. The stars move at his command. No one in the universe is so powerful that they can defeat him. Rama cannot stand before him for a moment with his army of monkeys and bears.

Lord Krishna proposed a treaty in the court of Dhritarashtra in the presence of Duryodhan. He requested that if only five villages were given to the Pandavas, the war could be avoided. But Duryodhan, full of arrogance, got angry at Krishna's proposal in front of his father, the king, in the court, and even said that even a piece of land equal to the tip of a needle will not be given without a war.

 

The ego demands to satisfy its sense of superiority. Ego forces you to look down upon someone. All the virtues go away from the heart of an arrogant man, and all the faults come automatically. An arrogant man becomes so blind that no matter how much light there is, he cannot see the truth. Jealousy, hatred, greed, attachment, envy, all these are different images of the ego. Therefore, one should introspect on the ego.

WE SHOULD GIVE UP OUR EGO AND BECOME HUMBLE

The ego always thinks that only I am right and others are wrong. This ego is the root of all the sorrows, pain, anger, and conflicts in life. When we become aware of this, a surprising thing happens – the ego is not found at all. It is like darkness that dissolves in the light of awakening.

 

We should give up our ego and become humble, i.e., modest. Humility means complete surrender to truth and no sympathy for falsehood. Humility means the end of the feeling of 'I'. The feeling of 'I' should be replaced by the feeling of a Das. By keeping a feeling of humility, sweetness will arise in our conduct. Only that person attains the master.

 

The Buddha taught that to reach the enlightened state of nirvana, you must first be free of your ego. This isn't as hard as it might sound. To help you let go of your ego, mindfully meditate to observe and bless each thought, while releasing it.