The Ego!
Dear Yogis,
A few words on humility or developing humbleness; the path to humility comes with a trap door – the moment you think you have it (humility) you have lost it! Because pride on achieving it has taken over!
Similarly many adepts on the spiritual path fall into the trap of spiritual ego – I am more humble than him! I make do with lesser than her! I can do a more advanced pose than him!
It’s interesting to note what Swami Vishnudevananda had to say about this topic –
I have given you all I have with all my heart and love. It is for you to give to others. Sometimes I may not know all the answers, and I know that I have a long way to go. If you didn't get anything, that's because of my lower emotional nature. If there was anything good you got, it came from my great Master Sivananda. I don't say that I'm an unemotional person. I scolded and talked endlessly. I acted like a dictator. If I were like my master, or like Jesus, I could wash the feet of my disciples. But for that one must be very high. It can only be done when the ego is gone. If I were to do it, it would be hypocrisy. I'm not that high. Once, some years ago, I prostrated myself before a man to whom I had been rude and impatient. As I was doing it, I was thinking "How humble I am." So don't look for an easy way to overcome your ego. For years I've tried. I watch myself as my ego manifests itself. I analyze. But it clings like a leech. When we can't control ourselves, we should offer it to the Lord: "Oh Lord, I offer it to Thee!" And now, if in any way I hurt your feelings, I ask you with all my heart to pardon me.
– Swami Vishnudevananda
Some of the yoga asanas like Shoulderstand and Plough help reduce the ego and in a previous class, I narrated the myth behind the plough pose and the ego dissolution story associated with it.
To hear more such stories and practise the poses with knowledge on their inner life keep attending regularly!
Om Shanti.
Mayank
Heaven knows yoga will make one humble! There are many positions which remind me of the many mistakes I have made in life by not paying attention to things (like my health). There are some which surprise me because I see the progress I have made, but as you have pointed out above, there comes the trap. The ego is a fascinating thing. It gives us confidence, but it also can cause our downfall.
Great post. Gave me a lot of food for thought. Thanks!
Thanks Judy for your comment. Once awareness [Chetana] sets in about the role ego can play in our responses and interactions, one can start the process of 'controlling' it. It is a layered process that usually has 3 stages :
1. Hindsight awareness – post an incident one realises the unfavourable role the ego played and regrets it
2. Present awareness – as the event is unfolding the 'doer' realises the surfacing of the ego and mitigates it's effect
3. Conscious awareness – one is able to maintain a third party view [Viveka & Vairagaya] and react from a space not controlled by ego
Wish you many more moments of awareness….
Really great! Thanks Mayank.
Thanks for the interesting reads and care and attention that you put into the website and blogs. It was a pleasure to meet you recently in our 'Guru's home'. Please come again. Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram, Neyyar Dam, Kerala