Two men in a room, room is in an apartment, apartment is in a building
Building is in a locality, locality is in a city, city is in a state
State is in a Nation, Nation is in a continent, continent is on The Earth
The Earth is in a solar system, solar system is in the galaxy
The Galaxy is in the Milky way…

We are so small still we create TWO WORLDs in a single room!

Me on the top of the world

‘Me’ on the top of the world

When I was in school, I read this poem in Hindi in my course. It is very meaningful and important story of our life. We are nothing if we follow the trace suggested by the poet. Yet, we create our own world and cause problems in our surroundings, our near and dears life and life of our colleagues. All this for what – to manage, boost and nurture our Ego. If the ego goes beyond our near & dear and colleagues, it goes to kill people in the name of our belief system. Majority of the wars fought in the world are because of Ego.

Alexander the great – why “the great” because he conquered the world – with sword! Cold war – why? To prove WE are better than YOU. MY country is superior than YOURs. This applies to the recent attacks in cities of Afghanistan, social unrest in the Middle East (suppressed ego of citizen and suppressing ego of the respective rulers) and Nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea. We see political, religious, cultural and regional problems because of Ego.

At the same time, I am of the opinion that ego is not a problem, the manifestation of the same is a problem. Self respect becomes ego when it crosses a certain line. I see many solutions to this, one is when we start looking at ourselves through the lenses of the poet who wrote the above lines. We are tiny small creatures and there are many things beyond I and MY GROUP. For some, ‘I’ and ‘My group’ becomes purpose of existence. Second solution I see is through the eyes of Mirdad. Other is through the peaceful methods e.g. meditation suggested by spiritual masters.

What say you – is ego ‘purpose of existence’ or a problem?

Related blog based on The book of MirdadForbidden word


KRD Pravin

Here I am supposed to write about myself. Professionally, I am quite serious and a workaholic; personally I am an individual who enjoys what he does and takes life as it comes. I am passionate about my work and actions and empathetically careful, attached and committed to them. All this makes me a fierce competitive professional and yet a compassionate soul, the Yin and the Yang together. Balancing is the art to be practiced using the middle path. From - http://business2buddha.com/about/

15 Comments

rummuser · April 17, 2012 at 11:09 pm

You use the term in the English psychological sense, whereas I would use it in the Indian spiritual sense of the sense of doership. If you accept that my interpretation is as valid as that of Freud, then I think that the ego is also mithya. The real you is the witness. Tat Twam Asi. If you accept that, then you are Brhma. Ever growing consciousness. This puny body is mithya. You need not feel inadequate or insignificant.

    KRD Pravinravin · January 6, 2014 at 4:28 am

    Unlcleji agree with you completely on every point.

    This pony body is largely what we (may be not all) consider as ME… which effectively is mithya (illusion). But this ego – I am better than you. My religion is better than yours……….. Let me extend it to my favorite topic My CASTE is better than YOURS -> also Lingayats dont consider themselves as Hindus.. anyways (that should not be bygone for me)

    Tat Twam Asi (I am that) is something to be practiced by all whether it is through meditation, playing golf or doing his/her job.

KRD Pravin · April 22, 2012 at 2:09 pm

Yes I meant English word and English meaning of Ego. How many of us (including me) mean are bound and respect the Indian Spiritual meaning of doer-ship?

Uncleji, on personal level I accept your interpretation and ‘Tat twam asi’ as well as ‘aham brahmasmi’ (the Mahavakya)… however on a daily basis… we are struggling, read any news paper and we see Ego with English meaning. Am I right?

rummuser · April 24, 2012 at 11:39 pm

You are indeed. I am attempting to shift that perception. No more, no less.

KRD Pravin · April 25, 2012 at 8:38 am

Yes uncleji need to shift gears and perception… seems difficult is not it?

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