Fwd: How to Get Rid of Egoism ?

[Guest guest]

Hare Krsna.Humility, pridelessness, nonviolence, tolerance,

simplicity, approaching a bona fide spiritual master, cleanliness,

steadiness and self-control; renunciation of the objects of sense

gratification, absence of false ego, the perception of the evil of

birth, death, old age and disease; nonattachment to children, wife,

home and the rest, and even-mindedness amid pleasant and unpleasant

events; constant and unalloyed devotion to Me, resorting to solitary

places, detachment from the general mass of people; accepting the

importance of self-realization, and philosophical search for the

Absolute Truth--all these I thus declare to be knowledge, and what is

contrary to these is ignorance. GITA 13-8/12False ego means accepting this body as oneself. When one

understands that he is not his body and is spirit soul, that is real

ego. Ego is there. False ego is condemned, but not real ego. In the

Vedic literature it is said: aham brahmasmi. I am Brahman, I am

spirit. This "I am," the sense of self, also exists in the liberated

stage of self-realization. This sense of "I am" is ego, but when the

sense of "I am" is applied to this false body, it is false ego. When

the sense of self is applied to reality, that is real ego. There are

some philosophers who say we should give up our ego, but we cannot give

up our ego because ego means identity. We ought, of course, to give up

the false identification with the body.

How to Get Rid of Egoism ? (Abhimaan Kaise Chute?)

 

On the topic of Egoism, it has been said in the Ramayana -

 

"Sansrut mool soolprad nana. Sakal sauk daayak abhimanaa." (Manas 7:74:3)

 

However many demonaic qualities there are, however many evil doers

there are, they all fall under the umbrella (support) of egoism. "I am"

- This feeling of our existence (I-ness) is not as much at fault, as

egoism is at fault. Being a part of God, a ray of Supreme

Consciousness, one is without any flaws. But when one believes that I

have qualities, I have abilities, I have knowledge, I am very smart, I

am a great speaker, I am capable of articulating my thoughts and making

others understand - in this manner, by looking at others and seeing

something special in ourselves, is the greatest flaw.

 

If we see something great in us, whether it be through devotion,

worship, or meditating on God, whether it be through chanting His name,

whether it be through name recitation, whether it be through our

cleverness and dexterity, whether it be through doing something

beneficial to others, in whatever manner we see that in comparison to

others there is something special in ourselves, then this is egoism.

This egoism is a great obstacle, and it is very difficult to escape

from it.

 

Egoism can come from a certain race, class, stage in life, acquired

knowledge, intellect etc. There are many different types of egoisms. I

know the Gita by heart, I can read the Gita, I can understand the deep

meaning and expressions in the Gita with great ease and clarity - all

of this is egoism. Egoism is one of the greatest destroyers. It is only

when one considers that greatness, that superiority, that

extraordinariness, as their very own, that egoism comes in. This egoism

cannot be removed by our own effort, rather it can only be removed by

God's grace. When we try to get rid of egoism, as we make effort

towards it, the egoism becomes even more firmly established. Whatever

one tries to do to get rid of egoism, then that solution itself becomes

the cause of increasing our egoism. Therefore it is very difficult to

for one to be released from egoism ! A spiritual aspirant must remain

ever alert and careful in this respect.

 

A spiritual aspirant must be aware that whatever greatness that has

come in him, is not his own, but it is from God. Therefore he should

consider that specialness as belonging to God. And at no time should he

consider it as his own. Whatever greatness or special qualities that is

seen in himself, it has been given by God. By firmly believing this, he

can get rid of egoism.

[Guest guest]

Capil and others:

 

Everything that was said here is so true. Thank you

for sending this my way. I would add one other thing

that greatly assists me in the practice of

egolessness: do all things for Krsna. The more I

practice this while I work and do, the more deeply

ingrained I am with Krsna consciousness and the more

free from egoic self I become. I am then more deeply

filled with His Love and through this Love, I can more

effectively touch the people around me for Him. I

experience the true Self in this state.

 

When I do NOT repeat His wonderful names and NOT do

for Him as I should, then consciousness of egoic self

returns and so does the pain and suffering of material

life. I would rather be filled with His Love and

touch the people around me with His Love-- so I

continue these practices-- and the joy of living free

becomes obvious to those around me, often giving me an

opportunity to share with them about Krsna. If you do

all things for Him, the Light will shine through you!

 

In His wondrous Love,

Radha Ch.

 

 

--- Capil Sookdeo <capilsookdeo wrote:

 

Hare Krsna.

 

'Humility, pridelessness, nonviolence, tolerance,

simplicity, approaching a bona fide spiritual master,

cleanliness, steadiness and self-control; renunciation

of the objects of sense gratification, absence of

false ego, the perception of the evil of birth, death,

old age and disease; nonattachment to children, wife,

home and the rest, and even-mindedness amid pleasant

and unpleasant events; constant and unalloyed devotion

to Me, resorting to solitary places, detachment from

the general mass of people; accepting the importance

of self-realization, and philosophical search for the

Absolute Truth-- all these I thus declare to be

knowledge, and what is contrary to these is

ignorance.' GITA 13.8-12

 

False ego means accepting this body as oneself. When

one understands that he is not his body and is spirit

soul, that is real ego. Ego is there. False ego is

condemned, but not real ego. In the Vedic literature

it is said: aham brahmasmi. I am Brahman, I am spirit.

This " I am, " the sense of self, also exists in the

liberated stage of self-realization....