SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0062 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR ELIMINATION OF EGOISM | PART II ||

Ego is a steel wall that separates one from the Lord or the Immortal Atman .

It is a stinking substance that has brought down the human from the highest level of divinity and made for degeneration into a being with base animal instincts and brutal impulses .

It is a magical chemical manufactured in the Laboratory of Prakriti or Maya which has made one forget one's original , essential , divine nature , and run after shadowy toys of mundane , perishable combination of opium , cannabis indica , alcohol , wine , brandy , gin , rum , essence of grapes , malt , whisky and something else whose composition is unknown to scientists and even to Brahma , the Creator .

It is a mysterious gas which evaporates into nothing for an enquirer but appears like a granite rock for a person of indiscrimination and worldliness , which cannot be blown out even by dynamite and potent bombs .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0063 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR ELIMINATION OF EGOISM | PART II ||

Ego is highly powerful . Its ways are peculiar . Its nature is ineffable . Its mysterious working is beyond the reach of intellect .

It is insidious and treacherous in its invasion and onslaught .

It brings down a Yogi or a Sannyasi , who has ascended to a great height in the ladder of Yoga , to a low level in the twinkling of an eye .

It assumes various forms , attacks in various ways and deludes one .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0064 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR ELIMINATION OF EGOISM | PART II ||

This whole world is a play of ego . Ego , sex and world are inseparable .

If you understand the nature of ego , you have understood the whole mystery of creation .

Therefore scrutinise . Study of ego is imperatively necessary . It will help you in the attainment of Eternal Bliss or the Ultimate Reality .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0065 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR ELIMINATION OF EGOISM | PART II ||

Ego is a modification of Prakriti or Maya . It is the self-arrogating Tattva or principle .

It is an effect of Avidya . It is born of ignorance .

It has got three forms , viz , Sattvic ego , Rajasic ego and Tamasic ego . Sattvic ego leads to liberation ; Rajasic and Tamasic ego binds you to the wheel of samsara .

Its favourite abode is the mind of a rich person , a dry Pundit , big officers , ministers , scientists , doctors , atheists , rationalists , agnostics , communists , whose minds are turned away from religion and the pursuit of Truth .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0066 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR ELIMINATION OF EGOISM | PART II ||

You feel Aham Asmi , " I exist " . This is Sattvic ego .

Vibhishana and Tulasidas said

" I will not bow my head to any other GOD than Sri Rama " .

This is Sattvic ego . A desire to know one's own self , to attain liberation , to lead a virtuous life , is born of Sattvic ego .

A desire to rule others , to possess estates , to have position , power and prestige is born of Rajasic ego .

Idleness , procrastination , carelessness , inertia , obstinacy , head-strong nature are born of Tamasic ego .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0067 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR ELIMINATION OF EGOISM | PART II ||

Ego is a Vritti or modification of the mind .

First Aham Vritti manifests and then all other Vrittis cling to this Aham Vritti .

From ego is born mind . Reflection of intelligence that is associated with ego is Jiva . It makes the Jiva identify oneself with the physical body .

Then the notion of " I " in the body arises . This is the cause for human sufferings and miseries .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0068 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR ELIMINATION OF EGOISM | PART II ||

Wealth , beauty , physical strength , possession of virtues , erudition , Rajasic diet , fatten or thicken the ego .

Satsanga , Japa , meditation , study of religious books , Sattvic diet and Kirtan , thin out the ego .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0069 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR ELIMINATION OF EGOISM | PART II ||

If the ego is directly killed by Brahma Chintana or enquiry of " Who am I ? " or Jnana Abhyasa , all its modifications will perish by themselves .

They have no independent existence .

Annihilation of lust , anger , etc , leads to thinning of egoism .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0070 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR ELIMINATION OF EGOISM | PART II ||

Through repetition of acts , lust , anger and pride are strengthened . They become deep-rooted or inveterate .

You must struggle very hard with great patience and indomitable will to eradicate these evil Vrittis .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0071 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR ELIMINATION OF EGOISM | PART II ||

Pride or vanity is a long-standing associate of the ego .

It will not leave even advanced Sannyasins and Yogins .

If proper respect is not shown to them , they become offended , even though they may not exhibit violent fits of rage .

What is the reason for this ?

This is due to wounded vanity . The ego still persists . It wants respect and honour for its secret gratification .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0072 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR ELIMINATION OF EGOISM | PART II ||

If you keep the servant Bhava , even when you are in a high position , vanity will not affect you . You should think also that your exalted position may change at any moment .

If a Sannyasi or a Yogi or a great person is honoured , saluted and garlanded very often by one's admirers and disciples , if one occupies always a high seat , one finds it difficult to return the salutations and bend one's body or sit down on the floor .

After some time gradually vanity creeps in the mind unconsciously and one becomes a slave of respect and honour .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0073 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR ELIMINATION OF EGOISM | PART II ||

Sometimes a Rajasic person asserts and says ,

" I will never withdraw my remarks and statements even if I die . I will never yield . I will never talk first . I will never salute first . I will never apologise . I must have the first seat " .

These are expressions of a person of vanity . If the vanity is wounded , one will try one's level best to attack and kill those who have wounded one's vanity .

If a person corrects one's nature and develops a little humility and adaptability , if one can bend a bit and speak sweet words , one can win the hearts of all and can become the real ruler of the whole world .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0074 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR ELIMINATION OF EGOISM | PART II ||

The human suffers terribly on account of wounded vanity .

One cannot stick to one's position in one place , to one superior , to one Guru .

One creates troubles , fights and quarrels , loses one's conveniences and other advantages and aimlessly wanders from place to place , dragging a cheerless existence .

All these are due to wounded vanity and stiff ego which is harder than steel and granite .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0075 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR ELIMINATION OF EGOISM | PART II ||

Maya is powerful . It deludes one .

One has no time to introspect and look within to find out one's defects .

One is annoyed even if one's defects are pointed out by one's best well-wishers .

One has not the strength to remove one's defects , to eradicate one's vanity .

One repeats the same mistakes again and again and leads a miserable life .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0076 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR ELIMINATION OF EGOISM | PART II ||

It is easy to become a MA , PhD , in Universities . It is easy to deliver thrilling lectures and electrify the audience but it is difficult to remove this vanity and stiff ego which is the root-cause for human sufferings .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0077 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR ELIMINATION OF EGOISM | PART II ||

Ego never spares even a Yogi or a Vedanti .

A narcissist is vain of one's physical beauty and gracefulness , a ruler of one's dominions , a Vedanti of erudition , a Yogi of Samadhi and Siddhis , a Brahmachari of purity .

It is only a real Bhakta who is free from the evil trait is saved from this dire enemy through the grace of the Lord .

SADHANA : TPPTSP | SEL0078 | SWAMI SIVANANDA

|| SADHANA FOR ELIMINATION OF EGOISM | PART II ||

O Humans ! Know clearly what this mischievous ego is . Study its nature very carefully .

Sit calmly with closed eyes daily for a few minutes . Introspect and find out your defects .

Be regular in your meditation . Have constant Satsanga . Remove vanity .

Annihilate this ego and rest in your original Satchidananda state .

SADHANA FOR ELIMINATION OF EGOISM | PART #1 ➤➤
SADHANA FOR ELIMINATION OF EGOISM | PART #2 ➤➤
SADHANA FOR ELIMINATION OF EGOISM | PART #3 ➤➤