Understanding Ego

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About the Author Paramahamsa Prajnanananda is the current spiritual leader of the Kriya Yoga international organizations. These organizations were founded by his master, Paramahamsa Hariharananda, who spread the teachings of Kriya Yoga all over the world. Paramahamsa Hariharananda was Swami Shriyukteshwar and Paramahamsa Yogananda's most outstanding direct disciple, one of the greatest realized Kriya Yoga masters in the lineage of Mahavatar Babaji Maharaj and Shri Lahiri Mahashaya.

Born in Odisha, Paramahamsa Prajnanananda was raised in a profound spiritual environment that inspired his search for Truth. He received his higher education in Cuttack and became a professor of economics there. In 1980, while still a student, he met Paramahamsa Hariharananda, who initiated him into Kriya Yoga, then fifteen years later, into the sacred path of sannyasa. After only three years, at the early age of 39, his master conferred upon him the highest title of Paramahamsa, a designation reserved for monks and saints who have attained the summit of realization.

Enriched by his own direct experience, fathomless wisdom, and deep love for humanity, Paramahamsa Prajnanananda guides and inspires spiritual seekers, a living example of how to fulfill one's infinite potential. In addition to running the main ashrams in Puri, Cuttack, Vienna, and Miami, Prajnananandaji spreads spiritual knowledge and the ancient science of Kriya Yoga by holding seminars and retreats all over the world. Prajnana Mission, founded by Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, provides service to humanity with free medical assistance units and centers, residential schools for the poor, and many other charitable and educational activities.

Author of many books on the science of yoga, practical guidelines to the application of the wisdom of Vedantic philosophy, and insightful metaphorical commentaries on the major holy scriptures and world religions, Paramahamsa Prajnanananda binds and bridges Eastern and Western cultures with a harmonious, fresh, and non-sectarian approach.

Preface Life is a journey. It should be comfortable and compassionate. Life requires security and stability, but the journey of life is not always smooth and trouble-free. We are forced to face countless challenges, trials, and tribulations. Unfortunately, we are not always prepared to face these difficulties. As a result, we may feel demoralized and defeated. We need to develop strength and courage and cultivate human values such as love, kindness, and compassion. We must be free from vices such as jealousy, ego, and pride.

Of all the vices, ego is considered the vilest, the mother of all negativity. It is the trickiest vice. It severely infects us without our knowledge. It can be compared with a disease like cancer in the modern age. When ego is strongly rooted within and spreads to different aspects of life, it is not easily remedied.

With proper understanding ego can be used skillfully, like spices in food, but without strategic use, it can be very unpleasant for the egotistical person as well as for others. Egotistical people are disliked by all. They cannot see their own folly, but they are very eager to find fault in everyone around them. The boastful nature of egotistical people creates a bitter and unpleasant environment. What a pity!

A person who is aware of his or her own ego will feel miserable and will want to be rid of it. Unfortunately, in most cases ego has already established such a strong footing that it is very difficult to break free of its grasp. Even elevated souls, people with evolved minds and intellect, are often victims. According to some, ego is the root of all trouble in life, while the egoless state is blissful and peaceful.

How can we be free of ego? If our desire is strong, good company is available. If sincere effort is applied, ego can be subdued. Ego causes conflict and contradiction. It creates many enemies and promotes trouble. People without ego are always humble, and with the power of humility they become stronger and ultimately successful. People with ego have very few friends, and the few that they do have are usually filled with selfish motives People without ego have countless friends and well-wishers who are eager to help and serve them without expectation.

Egotistical people tend to be lonely and insecure. They perpetually fear unforeseen situations. Being proud of their achievements and success, they continuously fear failure or loss, even losing their social standing. They desire attention acknowledging their pomp and grandeur, and they do not realize their exhibitionism is not permanent. The power and play of ego is unimaginable. It materializes as a subtle wave, but swells into storms of turmoil, havoc, and countless horrible situations.

Everyone wants independence and freedom in how they think, speak, and act, but egotistical people always try to control others with power and personality. They constantly create fear in others with their image and accomplishments. However, when ego is properly understood and managed intelligently, it becomes polished, refined, and useful. People with inner balance, maturity, and an understanding of ego's harmful effects are careful of how they behave. They take precautions to manage any possible damage in social relationships and in the workplace.

A person with right understanding, who is aware of ego's impact in day-to-day activities, is always careful so that the cobra of ego cannot raise its hood and poison others with vices. On the other hand, egoless people shower a nectar of love wherever they go. Their humble, lovable nature is a good role model for many.

Ego is the great troublemaker, but when handled skillfully, it can help us reach our goals. To achieve this, we must be constantly alert. While living in the world and accomplishing daily mundane and spiritual activities, we should always cultivate humility.

This book on ego is the result of a retreat in Sydney, Australia, where the participants reflected upon ego from various angles and expressed their thoughts, questions, and insights. Hopefully, this book will help readers in general, and people on the spiritual path in particular, deal with life's problems more efficiently.

I bow to all of you with love and humility.

Introduction Spiritual books and sacred texts of all religions highly recommend that we free ourselves from anger and ego. They are two sides of the same coin. Where there is ego, pride and anger persist. Ego always desires self-supremacy. A person free from a boastful nature, arrogance, and ego is a person of higher spiritual attainment. Dealing with ego is not easy. Consider a story from the teachings of Gautama Buddha recorded in the Jataka Tales, which describe many of his earlier incarnations as a bodhisattva a spiritually advanced being who puts off his or her own final liberation to help others to become enlightened.

Long ago in Varanasi lived a popular king named Brahmadatta. During this time, an unexpected cholera epidemic spread throughout the town. This epidemic caused many to lose their lives in a short time. In the royal priest's family all passed away except a young son who was away from the city. Hearing about the demise of his family, he performed all the proper rituals needed for the departed family members, then started wandering from place to place. He reached Takshashila, which was renowned for learning and was inhabited by many qualified teachers. This young brahmin boy apprenticed with a highly qualified brahmin and started to study many scriptures. He completed his education and asked for his guru-preceptor's permission to continue traveling to different places.

The guru, through his divine guidance, provided the young man with practical instructions for traveling and allowed him to proceed on his mission. He traveled to many places until he reached a village where many low-caste people resided. A bodhisattva (one of the Buddha's earlier incarnations) lived there, having been born into an untouchable family. Although the bodhisattva was born into a low caste, he was well versed in countless scriptures. His nature was noble and humble. He had no ego, pride, or arrogance. Perceiving his noble nature, all the people of the village followed him and considered him a divine being.

The bodhisattva knew a special mantra that allowed him to grow mangoes during several seasons. Every day he went to the forest with a basket and a long piece of bamboo that had a hook to pluck fruits from the trees. Standing seven steps away from a mango tree, he would chant the mantra and sprinkle water on the tree. In no time, blossoms would appear, then abundant fruit that ripened immediately dangled from the tree. After picking the fruit, he would return with a basket full of mangoes. A portion was consumed by his family while the rest were sold.

When the young brahmin traveled to the village, he found the low-caste bodhisattva selling ripe mangoes in an odd season when it is not usually possible to harvest mangoes. The mangoes looked very attractive and their smell was unique. He wondered where these mangoes came from. He thought, "Surely, it is a powerful mantra that this person knows. I must learn this mantra by any means. If I learn this mantra, I will have no problems in life."

With this thought in his mind, the young brahmin started living in the village and closely observing the conduct of the bodhisattva. One day he secretly followed him and with his own eyes saw how he produced ripe mangoes. After this incident, the young brahmin went to the bodhisattva's home, but he was not there. However, a short time later the bodhisattva returned. The young brahmin offered his adoration, and started serving the low-caste bodhisattva. Finally, the young man requested that the bodhisattva accept him as a disciple.

**Contents and Sample Pages**