So, what exactly is this ego?
Ego is that state of awareness which thinks of you as separate from the other. Ego thinks in terms of guiltiness and shames and glories of the past, and it thinks in terms of fears and hopes about the future. It never thinks about what ‘is’, but always thinks about ‘what was’ and ‘what could be’. Ego thinks in terms of many as opposed to the One, the one pure intelligence.
What is pure intelligence?
It’s commonly called ‘common sense’, or the ‘presence of mind’. At any moment, when you do the most appropriate thing in the most appropriate way without any influence of the stored up memories of your past and without any regards to fears of failure or hopes of future rewards, you let the pure intelligence act through you. This pure intelligence may be called the Soul or super-ego or God or universal consciousness. The term ‘pure intelligence’ is used here in preference for others because ‘intelligence’ is one term you can easily identify with compared to the other terms.
So, how is the ego different from pure intelligence?
Ego is self identity. It’s labeling yourself, painting the ‘pure you’ with distinct qualities. And this ego labels others too. The ego cannot but think in terms of these qualities and it always defines yourself as somebody distinct from others. But these qualities and definitions are not fixed or constant. The paint wears off in time and as it wears off, the ego freshly paints the worn off patches of with new qualities and new definitions, and gives an illusion of continuity. This illusion of continuity of qualities strengthen self identity. Now, completely strip off these qualities and definitions, and you will find that the ‘pure you’ and the ‘pure other’ are one and the same, there has always been only one existence, call it the One, or the Soul, or God. The consciousness of this God is pure intelligence itself.
The foremost quality of ego is self preservation. It always tries to impose it’s definition of yourself onto others around you and into your own future. That’s where the problem comes and conflict comes. You define yourself as somebody now, and you want to preserve this definition of yourself into the future until you get a better definition. You are afraid that if you lose this definition of yourself, you will fall. You will become lesser. This fear is the hallmark of the ego. So, when you actually get to the future, your ‘new’ ego tries to define itself anew and comes into conflict with your older definition of yourself that tries to preserve itself. Similarly, when you try to impose your definition to others, the ‘other’ ego resists it and there comes a conflict. So you see, there is a conflict both in terms time and space. Remove this illusion of time and space and there is no more conflict. But pure intelligence doesn’t need any preservation, because it knows itself to be the only existence.
So, how do I identify whether I’m acting egoistic or with God consciousness?
This ‘attempt’ to identify is itself ego. Don’t ‘try’ to identify, but just be. Pure intelligence doesn’t ‘try’ or ‘attempt’, it just IS.
Pure intelligence works in harmony. In reality, there is is only one, the pure existence, consciousness, bliss absolute. It’s not ‘my’ existence or ‘my’ consciousness or ‘your’ consciousness, but it’s THE consciousness, THE existence and bliss. It’s not that I am intelligent or I was intelligent or you are intelligent, but it’s THE pure intelligence. This intelligence acts harmoniously. That is, the intelligence acts through you now in a certain way and it may act through you in a different way in some point of time in the future, but there is no conflict between both the ways. There is harmony. So, when pure intelligence acts through you now and does something, it’s helpful for you in the future, and you’ll never regret. Similarly, the intelligence may work differently through you and somebody else (a different point in space), but there is no conflict between both of you. There is only harmony. All of us complement and complete each other and don’t conflict each other when there is only intelligence and not egos acting.
But the ego is always intent on conflict. The ego says “I’m right and he is wrong”, or, ” I was wrong”, or “I made a mistake”, or “I’m afraid that I will fail”, or “I should be like this in the future”. Note that pure intelligence at times uses idea of future as a guidance for present action, as in reserving a ticket now for your future travel. But, pure intelligence is all about the present. Ego, on the other hand, lives in the past or in the future. When you imagine unreal things, like a future dialogue between you and somebody else, know that it’s the ego. You may imagine your future now, but you can never live your future, sure it may become real when it happens eventually, but it’s unreal as of now, it’s just imagination. When you feel guilty about your past mistake, or relive your past glory, know that it’s the ego.
Pure intelligence is about reality. Ego is about imagination. Note that pure intelligence visualises, but never imagines. Visualisation is creativity, imagination is speculation. Through visualisation, you create your own world for yourself. Through imagination, you lose yourselves in the mires of time.
Ego always needs and craves for something. But pure intelligence is rich by itself and doesn’t need anything from outside, because, it knows that there is no outside.
Pure intelligence fulfills. Ego imitates. When you are in the state of ego, you try to imitate your own past success or you imitate somebody else. Pure intelligence is ever original, ever creative.
Ego always looks up to others for help. It looks for an authority, It wants a rulebook so that it can imitate. Pure intelligence is intelligence itself, so it doesn’t need somebody external to lay down rules for itself. But beware, pure intelligence doesn’t even lay down it’s own rules for itself. When you say you are sufficient by yourself and you will never accept others opinions, it’s still your ego. Pure intelligence, though it doesn’t need external rules, does appreciate the wisdom behind rules laid down by wise men, which is nothing but an expression of the same pure intelligence, though at different time through a different person. Pure intelligence is always intent on finding harmony.
But acting without rules doesn’t mean chaos. Pure intelligence not needing rules don’t mean it acts haphazardly, but it helps you do take the most appropriate action now in the most appropriate way.
This pure intelligence is God, it’s You, it’s Now. It’s the only reality. All else is stored up memory and imagination. All else is unreal.
(On June 20, 2008, I asked these questions to myself and got these answers popped up in the awareness, and I just jotted down the answers, ‘Conversations with God’ style! I don’t mean to instruct others, this is primarily written for myself, I refer to this post from time to time, just as a reminder….)
Thanx a lot. All u had there is true . Once again thank u so much
Athun, thanks for the comment. It means a lot.
How to act properly, how to overcome ego?
Be in the present moment, be aware, let it go.
I realise my ego…I want to get rid of it… but I’m finding it difficult to shed it off. Why?
Why do you want to get rid of the ego? Which part of your mind is it that wants to get rid of the ego?
There is a quote from J. Krishnamurti, “Instead of wanting to get rid of fear, be deeply conscious of want, without compulsion of any kind. Then there will be the cessation of fear, the awakening of intelligence and the deep plenitude of life.”
Fear is just one of the manifestations of the ego, so in this quote you can substitute the word ‘fear’ with ‘ego’…
Of course, yes even when you realise the ego, it raises its head at times because of old habit. But as you become more and more deeply conscious of yourself and your thoughts, you will see that the misbehaviour of ego becomes less and less.
Become deeply conscious, bring your awareness more and more into the present moment.
I am glad I stopped by. This was very interesting. I seriously need to do some work on being conscious. I have been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer and FEAR has been in my thoughts, Actually, I have a lot of fear about life, and it seems that it has been with me all of my life. Now this, cancer. I am told it is considered early stage.
At any rate, your page has made me look at myself. Thanks for posting this.
Thank you! I know it can be very difficult, but a right perspective helps. I wish you all the very best in terms of health and happiness in life.
i get up everyday like i”m reborn again..i ve made death and live my daliy routine..live today like u die tommorow,but remember my friends,the moment u stop fearing about life or death,you are free from that instant in you life..
That’s a very good way of looking at life
when ever i open the any website for the definition of ego, every web have different definition. i am much confused,
hi Srini verry interesting theory i can not disagree , it makes sence all you are saying but like Akhtar Raza sais im confused every web page have another definition of ego . Can you please tell me . If having no ego means that you are religious or is it a comparation made between ego and god . I dont really believe in god but i see that many of the web pages they try to convince you that god has anything to do with the way we think . Thanks for taking your time to share your thoughts with us .
Anca & Akhtar Raza, yes, it can be confusing because different people use a same word to mean different things. But when you fairly understand what it is, then things get to become clearer.
What is ego and what is god?
A wave rises from the sea and after some time goes back into the sea. A wave is not distinct from the sea, but for a certain time, it seems it has an individuality. Likewise there is some essence, something that is the basis of all existence from which everything including you and me have come from, and at the end, we all go back into that essence. What is that essence, what is that basis of existence? We can call it God.
If God is the sea, we all are like waves. God always exists in and through us, god is not away from any of us anytime, just as the sea exists very much within the waves all the time. We are all part of the same whole. Any wave that has arisen has to go back into the sea. But what if a wave thinks he is separate and afraid that he will be destroyed? That’s foolish isn’t it? The fear comes because the wave thinks he is separate from the sea. If the wave knows the truth that he is not just the little wave, but he is also the sea, then there is no fear or worries.
Just like that, there is a part of our minds, that thinks we are separate. This part of the mind is the ego. The ego thinks we are separate, we have to live for ourselves. From this kind of thinking comes fear, hatred, worry and all the negative feelings. But when we understand that this sense of separation is not real, when we understand we are not just this individuality, we are in essence the very basis of existence that has no destruction, the fear drops, the ego dissovles.
Please read this blog post also: http://jnanagni.com/2008/10/the-entire-universe-is-yours/
I think this is an amazing way to explain our lives as part of the whole. Your blog is the most interesting article i read in a long time..Keep up God’s work..
Thank you!
Thanks for this post. It literally bought me to tears. I am having more clarity in life now.
thanks again.
I’m glad this helped you. Thanks
Bravo!!! This is an amazing article about the pure truth of the existence, your words should became a guidance to life. It would be so mitigating if all of us acted naturally, without carrying the burden of the past or being smothered by the expectations of what we should be.
Wish you all the best, thank you!
Andrijana
Andy, thanks for your kind comments and wishes. Have a great day!
Hi
Interesting article! However, the ego is the light – it’s an instrument of self consciousness, self realisation and without it, we would not be able to self reflect and grow as conscious human beings. It is not the ego’s fault that we humans, as a whole identify with the lower realms of our existence and its up to each one of us to embody the dark within the light in order to create wholeness – rather than perfection! It has taken million of years for humans to reach this stage of evolution and to embody the spark of self consciousness. As for imagination, well it also has to a role to play with the unveiling of the spirit being within us all. This subject matter needs further study, reflection, discussion and so forth. Do keep in mind that the West also has its great spiritual masters and that the East has no monopoly on matters of spirituality. Goethe and Steiner are prime examples of great spiritual beings incarnating in the West and obviously the wisdom of the indigenous throughout the world is also a source of great spiritual insight and I have not got the space to mention other sources of wisdom that have in one way or another enhanced our overall understanding the nature of the great spirit – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthroposophical_view_of_the_human_being – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Teilhard_de_Chardin – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsgP8LkEopM – Fabian
hey, ur article was worth reading, tenx man, u gotta sum nice thoughts
Thanks!
Hi,
You have some great thoughts!! I came across your article trying to find the definition of ego. And, accidentally ended up encountering an explanation to what I have been going through lately.
My biggest fear in life has been the fear of failure. It sometimes keeps me from doing things that I actually should have been doing. So, I have been, for some time now, trying to explore and find out what exactly has caused this. I have listened to great people telling us to live our lives as if it were the last day and that, kind of, involves us doing things without that limiting fear of failure. You have put forth some pretty convincing explanations to this fear. I understood the part where you said, I will feel fear when I isolate myself. And, I realize that what you say is very true. When I don’t isolate myself, the feelings of shame, guilt, pride have no meaning, hence fear has no meaning.
Now, I am not much of a believer in God, but at the same time don’t want to close my mind to the idea either. I am trying to explore further and understand the whole concept of liberating oneself from the boundaries of isolation and hence ego and fear. So, thank you for putting your thoughts out for others to read.
What I didn’t understand was the concept of pure intelligence. From what I have perceived, common sense is something we all gain throughout our journey of life. So, I am confused about the idea. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you!
When you are confronted with a situation, can you act in the most appropriate way, the best way to face the situation, without being overpowered by fear about what could happen in the future or prejudices you have gathered from the past? If you can act in the most appropriate way the present situation demands without being overpowered by your thoughts, pure intelligence is acting through you, that’s what I mean… call it common sense or whatever you want.
From what I have experienced in life, when we act in a way not influenced by thoughts, just being present, one with the situation, there is a sense of connection with the environment around us (when I say environment, I don’t necessarily mean trees and rivers only, it’s also the people around you, the objects and resources around you, the whole set of conditions), there is some kind of harmony where it seems the whole environment is working with you, and answers you need just pop up in your mind. Now, I don’t mean this to be some kind of miraculous experience, but it happens to every one of us. If we pay close attention to our life and stay present, we’ll find it happens very frequently.
But when fears and doubts overpower us, it seems as though the whole world is against us. I’d never say that you have to completely wipe out all your thoughts and knowledge you gathered from previous experiences in life, you really can’t. Knowledge from the past can be a great treasure and be really helpful when you need it, but it should not turn into prejudice and influence our present state of mind. It’s just that you have to stay present, with the mind firmly in control. You know, you should be able to stand aside and watch your thoughts dispassionately rather than getting identified with our thoughts and wobble. This control of mind is a skill we all can develop.
You mentioned about the ‘fear of failure’. A quote from Paulo Coelho comes to my mind where he says, “the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself.” Yeah, fear of failure is worse than the failure itself. Failure is okay, we all fail in life, but don’t let the possibility of failure prevent you from taking action. Even if you fail, you can always do better next time.
lol, i came across it looking for the meaning of ego also…Good luck in trying to find your connection..when u do it puts the pieces together and the confusion fades….the missing pieces that have you confused is the connection and acceptance of being part of the whole in whatever way u believe in it. All which is left is to let go of the fears and its where i am still at..good luck to me also…;)
Nice thoughts sir.
I realise that i have ego to a very high degree..
Also i have inferiority complex. Can you please tell us something about inferiority complex?
Why, it’s just a thought, it’s not real.
These thoughts come to me from time to time, thoughts that I’m inferior, and thoughts that I’m superior… we all have these thoughts. Just that some of us take it too seriously. We don’t have to, these thoughts are unreal and don’t serve any purpose.
Whenever I have such thoughts, I just go out and help someone. It can be something very simple, like helping my mother with the cooking, or some volunteering activity. The important thing is to get out my little mind and connect with others, or even nature. Even things like photography helps, especially with nature and flowers, because it helps you contemplate with nature and flowers, you let go of your little thoughts and connect with the whole. When you connect in such a way, such little thoughts about inferiority and superiority simply drop off by themselves.
So, when you have these thoughts, just don’t listen, know they are not true, and just temporary. Help someone or just do something that will help you connect with others, and nature and the whole.
Cheers
Awesome ! so profound !Thanks a lot!
I found it very illuminating and reflecting!! All the best!!
Thank you!
Sharmilla
lol, i came across it looking for the meaning of ego also…Good luck in trying to find your connection..when u do it puts the pieces together and the confusion fades….the missing pieces that have you confused is the connection and acceptance of being part of the whole in whatever way u believe in it. All which is left is to let go of the fears and its where i am still at..good luck to me also…;)
@ Sharmilla , I think i understand what you are saying , i feel the same too
I think i can see the missing piece now, the connection , The Touch!! thanks and all the best!! 
i want to understand EGO in all its aspects.certain random thoughts that popped up in my mind are : EGO is
1. what othes are thinking of me?i always want others to think better of me. to that end,
i constantly motivate myself to do all kinds of activities. even the thought i dont care what others think of me seems EGO
2.privacy from others
I am not in the path of defining what’s ego. Sometime I have thought like which I feed ‘ I do not want to have’ Would anybody clarify me is that b’cos of Ego. If so how to avoid.
Bye
Abdul latheef