THERE IS NO LIBERATION WITHOUT THE DISSOLUTION OF THE EGO
The great masters and the sacred texts (like Bhagavad Gita) have clarified this subject; therfore there is no doubt that the ego must die completely in order to attain enlightenment or liberation.
Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi) said:
''This rebirth occurs when we completely die to our ego"
"When the last trace of ego disappears, it is then that the real birth of our identity as the Supreme Being takes place within us.
''This rebirth occurs when we completely die to our ego"
"When the last trace of ego disappears, it is then that the real birth of our identity as the Supreme Being takes place within us.
Sri Ramana Maharshi said:
"The spiritual practice adopted by the jiva (the individual, or individual soul) is complete when it destroys the ego in its origin"
"The spiritual practice adopted by the jiva (the individual, or individual soul) is complete when it destroys the ego in its origin"
"The Ego must, die, must disappear together with the inherent vasanas (desires and egoistic tendencies)."
"The death of the ego in the unlimited Silence (the non-dual Truth) and the shining forth of the Self is the attainment of Oneness (Kaivalya-Siddhi) In that State of Jnana, pure Bliss will gloriously blaze forth as one's own True Nature. "
Swami Sivananda said:
"You cannot realize God if you have the slightest trace of selfishness, or attachment to the name and form, or the slightest nuance of worldly desire in the mind"
´´The true freedom is the liberation from egoism and desires.
´´Freedom lies in the dissolution of the mind. The eradication and annihilation of desires leads to the sublime state of supreme bliss and perfect freedom.--
Sri Sankaracharya wrote in his famous book Vivekachudamani
" 299. So long as one has any relation to this wicked ego, there should not be the least talk about Liberation, which is unique.''
''300. Freed from the clutches of egoism, as the moon from those of Rahu, man attains to his real nature, and becomes pure, infinite, ever blissful and self-luminous.''
''301. That which has been created by the Buddhi extremely deluded by Nescience, and which is perceived in this body as "I am such and such" – when that egoism is totally destroyed, one attains an unobstructed identity with Brahman.''
“303. As long as the slightest residue of poison persists in the victim, total recovery cannot be expected: the ego causes the same effect in a yogi who yearns for liberation.
According the gunas the I’ or ego assumes three aspects: the sattvic ego, the rajasic ego and the tamasic ego.
However I prefer to classify the ego in two categories. The sattvic ego (or superior ego) and rajasotamasic ego (the inferior ego).
I prefer this classification because the rajasic and tamasic aspects of the ego are what impede us to live harmoniously and aware of our true nature, while the sattvic ego is what is helping us move from the darkness of materialism, the identification with the body and the lower mind, to the light of consciousness and the divine life.
However I prefer to classify the ego in two categories. The sattvic ego (or superior ego) and rajasotamasic ego (the inferior ego).
I prefer this classification because the rajasic and tamasic aspects of the ego are what impede us to live harmoniously and aware of our true nature, while the sattvic ego is what is helping us move from the darkness of materialism, the identification with the body and the lower mind, to the light of consciousness and the divine life.
The lower ego (of Rajasotamasic nature) causes our
identification with the body and all other identifications, and is a sum of selfish tendencies such as pride,
greed, lasciviousness, gluttony, envy, anger, fear, taste, disgust, hatred etc..
The higher ego (of sattvic nature) that is what gives us individuality and identifies with the Self (Atman,
Consciousness) and not with the body.
In order to achieve
liberation, the lower ego must be dissolved completely. Without the death of
the lower ego there is neither enlightenment, nor liberation, nor
self-realization. Awakening can happen before the total dissolution of the
lower ego, but awakening it isn’t the end of the journey.
The liberated one (Jivnamukta) in order to be able to communicate his teachings to this 3D world, he must maintain his individuality; and according to the great masters (such as Swami Sivananda, Sri Ramana Maharshi and Amma) this happens because of a residue of the sattvic ego. This residue of the sattvic ego has nothing to do with the ego that causes the identifications, the attachments, the dysfunctions and the suffering; these happen due to the lower rajasotamasic ego.
The liberated one (Jivnamukta) in order to be able to communicate his teachings to this 3D world, he must maintain his individuality; and according to the great masters (such as Swami Sivananda, Sri Ramana Maharshi and Amma) this happens because of a residue of the sattvic ego. This residue of the sattvic ego has nothing to do with the ego that causes the identifications, the attachments, the dysfunctions and the suffering; these happen due to the lower rajasotamasic ego.
The liberated has no identification of any kind and all egoic tendencies (pride, desires, greed, greed, jealousy, lasciviousness, gluttony, etc.) are dissolved forever. The Jivanmukta has no identification with his body, the mind, the senses, the objects, etc.
The liberated one is rooted and established in his essential nature (Atman, Consciousness) without having any kind of identity.
"Even in a Jivanmukta (Liberated) there is a slight trace of sattvic egoism.
The Jivanmukta performs actions through this sattvic selfishness " ~ Swami Sivananda