AHAMKARA or egoism By Swami Sivananda

 AHAMKARA or egoism

By Swami Sivananda 

The elimination of egoism is the sole condition of Self-realisation. 

AHAMKARA or egoism is the self-arrogating principle in man. It is a Vritti or modification that arises in the mind. Patanjali Maharshi calls this by the name 'Asmita'. The same mind assumes the form of egoism when man self-arrogates himself. Ahamkara manifests first and then comes 'Mamata'.

This baneful egoism generates actions, desires and pains. It is the source for all evils. It is illusory. It deludes people. Through it is nothing, it is everything for the worldly people. It is associated with mineness.

It is the greatest enemy. If one renounces this dire Ahamkara he will be happy. The secret of renunciation is renunciation of egoism. Ahamkara has its seat in the mind. It is under the influence of egoism man commits evils and wrong actions. It is deep-rooted. Anxieties and troubles proceed from egoism. Ahamkara is a veritable disease. Pride, lust, anger, delusion, greed, jealousy, love and hatred are the attendants of Ahamkara. Ahamkara destroys our virtues and peace of mind. It spreads the snare of affection to entrap us. He who is free from egoism is very happy and peaceful. Desires multiply and expand on account of egoism. Our inveterate enemy, egoism, has spread about us the enchantments of our wives, friends, children, etc., whose spells it is hard to break. There is no enemy greater than egoism.

 An aspirant who treads the path of devotion destroys his egoism through self-surrender or Atma-Nivedana to the Lord. He say I am Thine my Lord. All is Thine. Thy will be done. He feels he is an instrument in the hands of the Lord. He dedicates all his actions and the fruits of his actions to the Lord. He feels that there is nothing but the Lord, that everything is done by the Lord, that even an atom cannot move without Him and that all live, move and have their very being in Him alone.

A Karma Yogin destroys his egoism through self-sacrifice. A Jnana Yogin kills his egoism through self-denial or self-abnegation, through Vichara and the practice of Neti-Neti - I am not this body, I am not the mind, I am not Prana, I am not the senses, and through identification with the Supreme Self by meditating on the formula, 'I am all-pervading Self or Brahman.'

May you rest in the big Infinite 'I', the pure Sat-Chit-Ananda Brahman and enjoy Eternal Bliss by annihilating this little illusory 'I', the product of Maya, through self-denial or self-sacrifice or self-surrender! 

"Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realise;

Be good, Do good, Be kind, Be Compassionate;

EFFORT IS NECESSARY up to the state of realization - Sri Ramana Maharshi

EFFORT IS NECESSARY up to the state of realization
- Sri Ramana Maharshi
 
Effort is necessary up to the state of 
realization. Even then the Self should
spontaneously become evident, otherwise
happiness will not be complete. Up to 
that state of spontaneity there must be
effort in some form or another.

There is a state beyond our efforts or 
effortlessness. Until it is realized 
effort is necessary. After tasting such
bliss, even once, one will repeatedly
try to regain it. Having once experienced
the bliss of peace no one wants to be out
of it or to engage in any other activity.

  ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` 
"Be As You Are"
The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi
edited by David Godman
Arkana, 1985

LIFE DIVINE AND THE SUPREME SELF

LIFE  DIVINE  AND  THE  SUPREME  SELF

extract from  '' Self Knowledge and Self Realization'' written  by Nisargadatta Maharj

Read the book here

With heartfelt love and devotion, the devotee propitiates God; and when he is blessed with His vision and grace, he feels ever happy in His presence. The constant presence establishes a virtual identity between the two. While seeking the presence of the Supreme Soul, the Bhakta renounces all associations in his life, from the meanest to the best, and having purged his being of all associations, he automatically wins the association with the Supreme Self. One who has attained to the position of unstinted emancipation can never be disliked by others, for the people themselves are the very Self-luminous soul, though ignorant of the fact.

  In this world of immense variety, different beings are suffering from different kinds of ailments, and yet they are not prepared to give up the physical frame, even when wailing under physical and mental pain. If this be so, then men will not be so short-sighted as to avoid their savior, the enlightened soul.

  That overflowing reservoir of bliss, the beatific soul, does confer only bliss on the people by his loving light. Even the atmosphere around him heartens the suffering souls. He is like the waters of a lake that gives nourishment to the plants and trees around the brink and the grass and fields nearby. The Saint gives joy and sustaining energy to the people around him.

http://nisargadatta.org/index.html