I was wondering about the source of the ego, which creates a hell of a lot of problems for people. I realised the source of the Ego is inequalities amongst people; the more inequality, the more the ego. These inequalities can be anything like wealth, money, educational qualifications, position, power, intelligence, caste, family background, etc. Had all people been equal in every aspect, the ego would not be possible for anyone.
Inequalities among people can contribute to the development of ego. When individuals perceive themselves as superior or inferior to others based on these various factors, it can lead to feelings of entitlement, pride, envy, and insecurity. These feelings can manifest as ego and contribute to negative behaviors such as arrogance, competition, and aggression. In a society where everyone is equal in every aspect, there may be less opportunity for ego to develop as there would be no basis for comparison or hierarchy. However, it is also important to consider that ego can arise from internal factors such as insecurity, fear, and lack of self-awareness, regardless of external inequalities. Ultimately, addressing the root causes of ego requires a combination of individual reflection, self-awareness, and societal efforts to promote equality and empathy.
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Bahubali was the second son of Lord Rishabhdev. His 98 brothers had already renunciated. He was engaged in a fierce battle with his elder brother Bharat who inherited the throne. During the round of combat which he was going to win, he had strong feeling of renunciation and walked away to the jungle for penance.
After renunciation, Bahubali decided to follow the secluded path of penance to attain moksha as he did not want to bow to his 98 brothers who had already renunciated and hence were senior monks.
Even after thousands of years, he did not attain kevalgyan, step to Moksha (freedom from birth and rebirth) . After his sisters, Brahmi and Sundari hinted that his ego was preventing him from doing so, he repented and attained kevalgyan and moksha.
The above story has always inspired me with valuable lessons:
- Destiny: even though Bahubali was stronger, Bharat being the eldest son inherited the throne after Lord Rishabhdev renunciated.
- Ego is the biggest deterrent to growth. Even though we may be capable, ego pulls us down.
- We should not hesitate to accept juniors in age as our superiors if they are up the ladder in professional seniority.
Albert Einstein once said: “The more you know, the less your ego is. The less you know, the greater your ego.”
Treat all as equal or try to reduce the inequalities so that we can reduce the damage due to Ego. A society with fewer inequalities is a far better society for peace and love.
