EGO

Ego means the 'I' or the conscious thinking subject.

In the Guru Granth Ji the word "Haumai" is used for ego. When the ego seeks advancement only for itself at the expense of others, it finds no peace. It builds a great wall around itself and becomes separated from truth. In order to become a better human we must keep our ego in check.

When we become a witness to our thoughts and actions we begin to see how it can play clever tricks to fool us. There are many verses that warn us about its incredible power over our minds. Anything we accomplish can boost our ego and lead us to pride. We can easily get caught up in its wicked spiral and forget God.

Of the five evils: kaam (lust), krodh (anger), lobh (greed), moh, (attachment), ahankaar or haumai, ego is the hardest to conquer. It never leaves us and is the main cause of our suffering. Once we recognize its evil, we can become mindful of its effect in our

emotions.

Examples from the Guru Granth Sahib Ji:

It is a disease given to man (p. 1140, Bhairo M5)

In ego none can realize God; forgetting his source, he wastes away

his birth (p. 664 Dhanasri M. 3)

If we get free from ego, we attain final emancipation

(p. 226, Gauri Ml)

So long as a man thinks he is the doer, he has no peace; so long he thinks he is the doer, he is cast into the womb again and again

(p.278 Gauri Sukhmani M5)

Your ego serves like a mask that you put on Halloween night! It is not the real you but you use it to cover the real you. But the real you is Soul or Atma. Your ego identifies with the body and keeps you away from God.