Theme of the Week >> The Ego & It’s Effects
Most activity of the sun channel within us (our right side) emanates from the 2nd energy center, swadisthana. This energy center moves around the stomach (Void region) fulfilling many functions mainly through the action of the liver, which is the dominant physical organ in this region. It collects stress and it is interesting to see how it effects our inner wellbeing.
One of our distintive characteristics as human beings is self-awareness, which does not let us sit idle – even if we do, our mind can race infinitely thinking thoughts over and over again. The swadisthana center is constantly generating memories and feeding the brain, through conversion of fat cells of the stomach into grey matter of the brain. The result of thinking and desiring is action, which needs external acknowledgement. Without recognition of actions and thoughts, we do not feel the complete satisfaction of doing something. When doing in itself is not the complete reward we seek it externally. These are the origins of an obstructive energy within us, termed as Ego. This aspect, in balance, is responsible for our self-defense and survival, in excess becomes a rationalizing force to reckon with.
Some characteristics:
- External acknowledgement of success is important for the Ego
- If there is no appreciation of action, there is discontent
- Praise is constantly needed to feed the Ego
- Ego has the ability to be an aggressor and justify aggression through rationalization.
- One of the basest things it makes humans do: Take undue credit for other’s work.
- A person on an Ego trip is vulnerable to being fooled. (e.g. Ego trippers are the ones who are exploited for their vanity to pay extra for brand-names.)
Last weekend, I saw a nice anecdote posted on the wall at a Jimmy Johns, which illustrates the last point quite well:
A vacationing Ivy League MBA meets a local fisherman and compliments him on his small but quality catch of fish. Then he says, why did he not stay a bit longer and catch more? The fisherman says, that the quantity is good enough for his needs for the day. The MBA goes on to chart out a business plan for him: catch more fish, sell it for profit -> re-invest the profits -> buy bigger boats & employ a crew -> grow and move to New York -> spend a couple decades establishing a fishing empire and so on…
How long will this take? About 30-40 years…
And then? Then you’ll retire rich, buy a house in a nice coastal village and enjoy catching small amounts of fish!
“I think I probably do that exact thing, right now.” Would have been the fisherman’s thought.
Similarly, the ego-ist can be lead to purchase and apply expensive techniques, tricks, mantras, what you will. Only the simple and wise will escape the trap of the ego and not be mislead by false teachers and peddlers of spirituality.
Ego, on a subtle level covers the brain and the heart in a negative aura, which causes a disconnect amongst our sensibilities of awareness, heart and mind. One starts acting like a disintegrated being, self-destructive as well as a bull-in-a-china-shop. The quality of seeking becomes shallow, and limited to what the books and glossy brochures recommend as “good”, but not what really calms the heart and gives internal satisfaction.
Is there a solution? Yes. We have to recognize that we are greater than the ego and build true belief in that fact. As long as the belief is blind, the ego will come back and beat us at our game of rising higher in our conciousness. The other way to actively reduce ego, is through self-deprecation and laughing at it’s follies.
These are notes based on Shri Mataji’s talk on the Problems of Ego, 1979. For a complete understanding, please listen to the talk in its entirity.
