AHANKARA OR EGOTISM

Egotism or Ego is called " Ahankara' in Sanskrit-- the feeling of 'I' which leads to arrogance and superiority complex! Egoism is the root and crown of all evil thoughts and other down dragging tendencies. It degrades Man from the golden glory to the level of lowly duty!" says Bhagawan Sri Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba! It is a kind of veil or screen that separates the object from you. When the sun is covered by the clouds you feel the heat and light but cannot see the Sun. In the same way  as long as egotism dominates, you cannot have the vision of God! Egotism is the cloud that keeps God hidden from our sight. In the picture of Sri Rama you find him in the front followed by his wife Sita and brother Laksmana. But Lakshmana's view of Sri Rama is obstructed by the presence of Sita. Lakshmana represents JIVA the individual soul and Sita symbolizes MAYA and thus is responsible for the obstruction! In other words, Man's ego itself is maya! It is only when the feeling of " I " and Mine dies man can find salvation.No amount of Jnana or self realization can grant liberation or mukti as long as egotism persists!
      Freedom from terrestrial existence is possible when that ' I ' disappears. It is ignorance to say ' I ' and Mine. True knowledge is to say ' thou' and ' thine ' A true bhakta does not believe that he is the doer or kartha. He says and believes that God is the doer. As Lord Krishna, tells Arjuna "nimitta matram bhava Savyasachin" --Arjuna, you are only an instrument in my hands--you should develop the feeling that it is God that does everything. It is He who ordains you to do things! Every thing is yours not mine It is not easy to conquer your ego! Like the garlic juice that retains its pungent odor in the container egotism is obstinate and never  disappears completely however much you try to get rid of it.
        Can there be a good egotism? Two types of egoism exist among human beings--the RIPE and UNRIPE EGOS!To feel that every thing is God's,whatever you feel, see and think, that your body is God's--is called Ripe Ego! Realizing that the atma is eternal, free and all knowing is also RIPE EGO! On the other hand to be immersed in the cycle of samsara and feel that this is my house, my children,my wife and my body constitutes UNRIPE EGO! The feeling of  ' I ' that renders man attached to wealth and lust is not only mischievous but dangerous. Jivatma and paramatma are separated because of this ' I '. A stick placed on the surface of water divides it into two sections. The stick is the ' aham, the " i " ego!  If the stick is removed water becomes united!
         Egotism has vanquished many a great emperor and brought him down to dust! Our scriptuires and history are replete with the downfall of many great people blinded with egotism! Arrogant Nahusha, bloated with egotism, prodded the sages carrying him in a palanquin, with his feet! He was about to be crowned as Indra! Enraged at his ego and arrogance, the sages cursed hin to be a python! Ravana in the epic Ramayana is another emperor undone by his ego!  In modern days we have Hitler and othe dictators who lost themselves puffed up wih pride and ego
          How to conquer egotism? This can be done by serving God and develop a sense of servant master relationship! Service to Man is service to God! This sort of service becomes RIPE EGO and leads to  eventual emancipation! Sri Satya Sai Baba has advocated service without self as the panacea for this diehard ego! His SEVA DAL is a great and glowing testimony for the nishkama karma being done by thousands of volunteers all over the world! This selfless service not only annihilates our ego but paves the way for other achievements like sadhana and spirituality that are essential, Hanuman, in spite of his jnana and self realization,maintained the Ripe Ego of being  a servant of Sri Rama! Renowned sages like Narada, Sanaka, Sanandana,and Sanathkumara considered themselves as servants of God! Let us try our best to be free from this unripe Ego through service and Grace of God!