It\u2019s common to hear people on a spiritual path saying that we need to destroy or erase the ego. However, while we have a physical body, it\u2019s necessary to have an ego just as much as we have a mind and intellect. Rather than focusing on eliminating the ego, our aim should be to balance it so it acts in harmony with all our other layers of life.<\/p>\n
In terms of evolution, the non-local Absolute manifests the Jiva or individual soul. The individual soul brings with it the karma for this lifetime and creates the ego to help facilitate this. From the ego emerge the intellect, the mind and our physical world as projections of our karmic tendencies. The karmic curse is that we have forgotten who we really are and instead, the ego creates all the stories, labels and roles of who we think we are. Thus the ego knows us intimately and, if left to its own devices, becomes the director of our life story.<\/p>\n
Up until the age of about two, the ego is fairly dormant. Then, all of a sudden the word \u201cmine\u201d is discovered. Even though this may be challenging for those around us, we enter the period when the ego plays an important role in our lives. As we grow, the ego supports us in our education, career, starting a family and generally establishing our life. The ego loves to organize things but unfortunately it also loves to control not only our lives but also the world around us.<\/p>\n
If not managed, this negative side of the ego manifests as arrogance, pride, vanity, judgements and prejudices. In the more extreme cases, it emerges as the need to control, the lust for power, fanaticism or an obsession with materialism. Unfortunately, many people forego a more spiritual approach to life and become stuck with these seductive qualities of the ego. This leads to one definition of ego as being Edging God Out!<\/p>\n
Those of us who have begun to realize that there is more to life than materialism will sooner or later embark on our spiritual journey which will eventually take us \u201chome\u201d. However, this is a time when the ego can be most troublesome. As we\u2019ve said, the ego likes to be in charge to con-trol, whereas our spiritual practices are to break us out of boundaries and live in freedom. When we first start our sadhana (spiritual practice), the ego doesn\u2019t take much notice. It thinks, \u201cIt was that new diet last month and the exercise program the month before, this won\u2019t last either\u201d. However, as we continue and become regular with our meditation, yoga asana, etc., the ego starts to grow nervous.<\/p>\n
The driving force within the ego is fear and, if we allow it, the ego will install fear into all areas of our life. Any greed, lust, intolerance and anger are based in fear and guess who\u2019s behind it all, the ego. The ego knows all our weaknesses, our repressed desires, our areas of denial and will use them against us, to knock us off our spiritual path. Most of the doubts and worries we encounter are ego based, \u201cAm I doing it correctly?\u201d, \u201cAm I on the right path?\u201d, \u201cDoes this teacher know what he\/she is talking about?\u201d Even simple thoughts like, \u201cI don\u2019t have enough time\u201d or \u201cWhen will the meditation be over\u201d have been subtly slipped in by the ego.<\/p>\n
Now this doesn\u2019t mean we shouldn\u2019t use our common sense but, when these types of thoughts or doubts arise, ask yourself, \u201cIs this my Higher Self or my ego talking?\u201d Maharishi Mahesh Yogi used to say, \u201cWhen doubts arise, first doubt the doubter\u201d. The doubter is usually the ego. While our techniques themselves are effortless, as we progress on our path, it\u2019s important to remain focused, vigilant and disciplined in our approach to them. As long as we have a physical body, an ego will be with us. When the karma for this lifetime has been exhausted, the body ceases to exist and with it the ego. A new ego will be born with a new incarnation, again as a reflection of the karmic contract for that lifetime.<\/p>\n
Even after Enlightenment, some trace of ego still remains. In the Vedas this is called Lesha-Vidya or the \u201cleft over seeds of bad habits\u201d. An enlightened teacher must be very aware of this so he\/she doesn\u2019t fall prey to spiritual pride and arrogance. In the early stages of Samadhi, the yogi may gain new and exciting qualities and yogic powers. If these are recognized as merely a part of the journey and treated with humility, he\/she will progress to the higher levels of Sa-madhi. However, if they are used to control and manipulate, the ego takes over becoming like a \u201chungry ghost\u201d. Such a yogi may gain temporary power and fame but won\u2019t progress spiritually and will ultimately sow the seeds of his\/her own downfall. This is why Vedanta tells us to, \u201cSeek the company of those who seek enlightenment but run from those who claim to have found it\u201d.<\/p>\n
To manage the ego then, we need to live our lives consciously. Be aware of your choices and why you are making them. Be aware of the effects your choices have on others. There\u2019s an Arab proverb which says:<\/p>\n
The words of the tongue should have three gatekeepers.<\/p>\n
Before words get past the lips, the first gatekeeper asks, \u201cIs this true?\u201d That stops a lot of traffic immediately. But if the words get past the first gatekeeper, there is a second who asks, \u201cIs it kind?\u201d And for those words that qualify here too, the last gatekeeper asks, \u201cIs it necessary?\u201d<\/p>\n
We often hear the expression that someone has a \u201cbig ego\u201d. Actually it\u2019s the opposite. People who stamp around with their chests puffed out, have very small egos which are fighting for their lives, like a cornered wild animal. Love your ego, play with it, have fun with it, make it your friend and do not take it seriously. Seriousness is the ego playing the victim. Teach your ego humility through selfless service and compassion. When you love your ego, it will expand and cease to feel threatened. When the fear is removed, the ego will take its rightful place and be-come your biggest supporter on the path to enlightenment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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