Ego

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Enquiry - Is There an Ego?

 

While discussing the concept of ego (the mask), it is approprite to

refer to an discussion that took place between Sri Ramakrishna

Paramahamsa and one of his disciples. The disciple asked, " Sir, why is

it that we always desire for something? Why is it that we do not

realise everlasting peace? Sri Ramakrishna replied, " All troubles come

to an end when the ego dies " . The Sri Ramakrishna added, " If, by the

grace of God, a man can realise that he is not the doer (karta), nor

the enjoyer (Bhokta), but just an agent, then he at once becomes a

Jeevanmukta; though living in the body, he is liberated " .

 

Once a man invited his son-in-law, Ramesh who was living for away, to

stay with him for the holidays. A stranger happened to read this

letter, and thought this was a nice opportunity for him to go on a

visit. So when Ramesh got into the train, the stranger also boarded

the same train, and they both reached the same destination. Ramesh's

brother-in-law came to th railway station in a car to receive Ramesh.

The stranger stood next to Ramesh and got into the car along with him.

Now Ramesh thought that this man was a friend of his father-in-law's

family. His brother-in-law thought that he was a friend of Ramesh.

Whey they reached home the two guests were given a warm welcome and

nice rooms to stay. During meals, this imposter was the first to start

eating. Sometimes he even went into the kitchen to demand certain

special dishes that he liked. Though, the father-in-law was not too

pleased with his behaviiour, he did not say anything lest he shold

hurt the feelings of Ramesh, as he thought that the stranger was an

intimate friend of his son-in-law. The imposter was also freely using

Ramesh's clothing without asking him. Ramesh was annoyed with this

behaviour, but he did not complain, as he took him to be a memebr of

his father-in-law's household. Thus both father-in-law and son-in-law

allowed this stranger to have a fine time.

 

Then went on for some time, but soon both father-in-law and son-in-law

were fed up with the fellow's behaviiour. Finally, when the father-in-

law could not tolerate the stranger any longer, he asked Ramesh why he

had brought such a man with him. AT the same moment, Ramesh also

complained that the stranger was freely using his belongings and

without his permission. When the imposter discovered that he was their

topic of conversation, he quietly vanished from their household.

 

Similarly, in the case of 'Ego', we will discover that a self-

enquiry 'Who am I?' makes this imposter (ego) disappear.