TRUE FREEDOM is freedom from Ego
by Atman Nityananda / fcb
“Ego is the veil between God and the soul. When the ego vanishes, then is the realisation of universality or cosmic consciousness. Egoistic assertion is a terrible disease. It separates you from God and your fellowmen.”
- Swami Sivananda
“From ignorance) Avidya came ego or egoism (Ahamkara), the self-asserting principle. The function of ego or egoism is identification (Abhimana). Dehabhimana (is identifrcation with body, -it is mistaking the body for the Self or pure Atman. It is identification and attachment to the body), Shastrabhimana (it is identification with scrtures), Desabhimana (it is identification with country); these are varieties of identifications of ego.”
“This ego identifies itself with the body, mind, Prana, the senses.”
~ Swami Sivananda
THE MAIN FUNCTIONS OF EGO
Identification,
projection,
superimposition and
imagination
are the functions by which the ego hypnotizes us and uses our mind intellect, senses and body for its own sake.
IDENTIFICATIONS CAUSED BY THE EGO
“Since the ego is a derived sense of self, it needs to identify with external things. It needs to be both defended and fed constantly.
The most common ego identifications have to do with possessions, the work you do, social status and recognition, knowledge and education, physical appearance, special abilities, relationships, personal and family history, belief systems, and often also political, nationalistic, racial, religious, and other collective identifications.
None of these is you.”
~ Eckhart Tolle
Conclusion
The ego is not the identification with thoughts but ego is what identifies with thoughts, body, object, persons, country, religions, etc.
The main expressions of the egoic energy are:
1. Identification with the body. The strong sense that ’I am the body’ or’ the body is me
2. Desire for sense pleasure (mainly for sex, food, drink, and sensual objects in general), possessions (money etc.), power, fame and name
3. All pairs of opposites: Like-dislike, attraction-repulsion, fascination-disappointment etc.
4. All psychological disorders or defects such as fear, anger, jealousy, envy, impatience, depression, hypocrisy, hatred, etc. The negative energy which is stored in our vital body Eckhart Tolle calls it Pain-body.
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DISSOLUTION OF EGO
Burn this ego, through discrimination, Atmavichara (enquiry into the nature of Atman- the Supreme Self) and Samadhi.
Slay egoism – your arch-enemy – through self-sacrifice, self- surrender, self-denial, service, humility, prayer, worship and identification with Atman.
You will enjoy the immortal bliss of the Eternal !
- Swami Sivananda
NOTE:
Read a variety of essays in my blog: elmisattva-nonduality
- Eradication of vasanas (desires) is the proper remedy, Not Suppression by Swami Sivananda
- Freedom from Samskaras and vasanas leads to liberation / by Atman Nityananda
- Samskaras -impressions by Swami Sivananda
- Death of samskaras (impressions) leads to Liberation (Moksha) / by Swami Sivananda
- Sexual Samskaras and eradication of lust
- Mind is a bundle of Vasanas – Destruction of Vasanas will bring freedom. Swami Krishnananda
The ‘secret’ to a plentiful life, a life of harmony, happiness and contentment is to have a sattvic mind free from desires and ego and to live in every moment in conscious contact with our true Self (Consciousness).
🌺 Peace, Love, Harmony
atmannityanada 