3rd February, 2000
Chapter 1 - The You That You Want To Change
Day 28 - Ego
The “I” or ego in you is a tiny atom. If this atom is associated with the body, with matter, it identifies with matter. If this atom is associated with the being, the infinite, it identifies with the infinite self. When this atom, this ego, identifies with the material world, it becomes
miserable. But when it is associated with the spirit, it becomes Divine.
It becomes shakti, energy, when it is associated with the being, the self. It becomes miserable when identified with the body. In a huge atomic reactor, it is just one atom that is exploded. In the same way, in our whole body there is just one atom of “I”. And when this “I” explodes, it becomes the light of the self. Usually we say “I am miserable”, or “I’m happy”.
Shift this atom of ego from identifying with the body and the conceptual world, to identifying with the real world. When you think well of yourself, in a very subtle way, you think badly about others. Then anger, jealousy and hatred follow. When you think badly about yourself, you feel low and again you become angry and you hate others.
When you think well of yourself, you are in trouble and when you think badly of yourself, you are in greater trouble. So drop your self image. When is there ego?
1. When you don’t get attention.
2. When you seem to be losing attention.
3. When you get attention
Ego causes heaviness, discomfort, fear, anxiety. Ego does not let love flow. Ego is separateness, non belongingness, wanting to prove and to possess. Ego can be transcended by knowing the truth, by inquiring “Who am I?” Often, you feel contempt or jealousy towards someone with ego. Instead you should have compassion.
There is also a positive aspect of ego. Ego drives you to do work. A person will do a job either out of joy, compassion or out of ego. Most of the work in society is done out of ego. But in satsangs, work is done out of love.
Ego is separateness and non belongingness. It desires to prove and to possess. When you wake up and see that there is nothing to be proven and nothing to possess, ego dissolves.
