Ego

The word "ego" (अहंकार) is often used to mean pride or arrogance. This workshop gives it a much more precise and fundamental meaning. अहंकार is the state of the Intellect (बुद्धि) when it is disconnected from the Self (आत्मा) and its ability to experience reality directly. In this state of delusion (भ्रम), the psyche or citta operates based on unexamined beliefs and assumptions (मान्यताएं) taken from society or based on sensory experiences. It is this collection of borrowed beliefs that creates the false sense of "I" or the ego. This leads to pride. This ego is the root of our problems. It's the "I" that believes "I am this body," "I am my possessions," "I am superior/inferior," or "My belief is the only truth." Because these assumptions are not aligned with reality, they inevitably lead to internal contradictions, conflict with others, and suffering. The true "I" is the जीवन—the eternal, conscious Self. The ego is the mask of deluded identities it wears.