Ego is a thought or an idea
What is ego?
Ego is one of the four aspects of antahkarana (manas, buddhi, chitta, ahamkara-ego).
Ego (its lower rajasotamasic aspect) is what makes us identify with the body and thus we sense 'the body is me'.
The
ego makes us sense 'I am the body' (more precise 'the body is me') and
due to this strong sense we think and believe that we are the body, not the
opposite (i.e. we don't feel or sense that we are the body because we
think or believe so). That means that the ego is not a thought, not a
belief or an idea but some kind of energy that makes us identify with the
body and sense the body as our selves. Then, based on this sense or feeling 'the body is me' all various egoistic mental
concepts are added.
Ego
is the factor of identification, i,e. ego causes all kinds of
identification. Ego identifies with everything. First makes us sense and
believe that we are the ego itself and due to its identification with
the body that we are the body called so and so, born some years ago.
Based on this identification with the body we think: I am tall, fat, nice, American, woman, religious etc. and due to identification with the mind,
I am, smart, dull, intelligent, stupid, quick learner, and die to identification with the emotional mind I am angry, depressed, anxious,
afraid, etc.
Ego makes us sense that we as body-mind entities and as the ego itself, we
are the perceiver, the observer, the doer, the feeler, the experiencer
etc. In respect with external objects ego develops as ' Mineness'.
Due
to the identification of ego with consciousness (and its identification
with the body), the ego creates the false perception that consciousness
belongs to the body. That's why ignorant materialists scientists
consider that consciousness is a phenomenon created by the brain (I.e.
from matter).
But what is this mysterious rajasotamasic lower ego essentially?
It is a kind of energy (desire energy).
It is a kind of energy (desire energy).
The lower ego is like a tree with
many branches, of which its primary aspect is desire (mainly for
pleasure, power, fame, name, comfort, possessions). The ego-desire tree
develops and assumes various forms. The main ones are pride, greed,
raga-dvesha (i.e., like- dislike, attraction- repulsion or aversion,
love- hatred), lasciviousness, gluttony, jealousy, arrogance, fear,
agony, uneasiness, insecurity, vanity, anger, hatred, resentment,
disappointment, impatience, depression.
The above are its main forms and all the rest aspects of ego are based on them (are their modifications).
These
ego's aspects are primarily vital (psychic prana) and sexual energy
formations. These energetic egoic formations are associated or
identified ( phenomenon Velcro) with thoughts, imaginations, ideas and
beliefs.
Ego of course has its mental aspect but its more difficult aspect to eradicate is the vital-desire aspect.
In
reality all the above egoic forms are only modifications of desire
itself. Desire itself, transforms as pride, like, dislike, greed, anger,
hatred, jealousy impatience, resentment etc. As the water assumes the
form of steam, ice, snow moisture, etc., similarly desire assumes all
other egoistic forms. Negative emotions are only modifications of desire
They aren't original feelings. Feelings (empathy, devotion, sympathy,
happiness, joyfulness, kindness etc.) are not expressions or aspects of
this lower rajasotamasivc ego but expressions of the soul and the
sattvic mind.
For most seekers sexual desire and pride are the main obstacles that obscures them to reach liberation or Self- realization.
So,
the death of the ego presupposes the dissolution of this distorted
vital energy crystallized in our subtle body which is the lower vital
ego (of rajasotamasic nature) and which is the most difficult aspect of
ego to dissolve. Once this is made then liberation or Self- realization
is very easy.
As Sankarachatrya said it in his famous text
Vivekachudamani Verse
181: " Therefore the seeker after Liberation must carefully purify the
mind. When this is purified, Liberation is as easy of access as a fruit
on the palm of one's hand."
Quotes about the death of ego
Sri Ramana Maharshi
"The death of the ego in the unlimited Silence – the non-dual Truth – and the shining forth of Self is the Kaivalya-Siddhi [i.e. the attainment of Oneness]. In that State of Jnana, pure Bliss will gloriously blaze forth as one’s own [true] Nature."
'...intense
effort is necessary until the I-thought disappears completely in the
heart (Self) and all the vasanas and samskaras are fried and do not
revive again.'
' Knowledge (of the Self or Atman -Jnana) can only remain unshaken after all vasana-s are rooted out.' '... if one has not rooted out the vasanas, he will not attain salvation.'
' Knowledge (of the Self or Atman -Jnana) can only remain unshaken after all vasana-s are rooted out.' '... if one has not rooted out the vasanas, he will not attain salvation.'
If
the six illusory enemies (desire, anger, greed, delusion, intoxication
and envy), beginning with desire, that mingle in your heart are totally
destroyed, the extremely clear light of jnana will shine.’
‘An unruffled mind established in the heart is the fence that protects the field of liberation.’
‘An unruffled mind established in the heart is the fence that protects the field of liberation.’
‘Knowledge (jnana) can only remain unshaken after all vasanas are rooted out.’
Sri Adi shankaracharya
299. So long as one has any relation to this wicked ego, there should not be the least talk about Liberation, which is unique.
303. As long as there is a trace of poison left in the body, how can one hope for recovery? Similar is the effect of egoism on the Yogi's Liberation.
317... the destruction of desires is Liberation, and this is considered as Liberation-in-life.
~ (Vivekachudamani)
~ (Vivekachudamani)
Read also
Enquiry into the nature of ego - by Nityananda Atman