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EGO
The ego thinks of what it wants and has not. This is its constant preoccupation. The soul is aware of what it is given and lives in endless gratitude.
Abolition of the ego: one exists only by the Divine and for the Divine. Page ― 276 All bitterness in life always comes from the ego refusing to abdicate.
All that happens is to teach us one and the same lesson, unless we get rid of our ego there is no peace either for ourselves or for others. And without ego life becomes such a wonderful marvel!…
We can contemplate the divine smile when we have conquered our ego.
Without the play of ego, there would be no conflicts; and if there were not in the vital a tendency to drama, there would be no dramatic happenings in life.
Yes, those who live in their ego live constantly in an ugly drama. If people were a little less selfish things would not be so bad. Meanwhile we must meet all these adverse circumstances with patience, endurance and equanimity. 23 October 1935 The extent of your difficulties gives you the measure of your ego. 23 March 1957 Page ― 277 Divine Mother, My giant enemy ego is sitting directly in my path and will not let me pass. In what manner should I fight him?
Ignore him and go through. 12 May 1966 To get over our ego is not an easy task. Even after overcoming it in the material consciousness, we meet it once more – magnified ― in the spiritual.
How can one get rid of one’s vanity and selfishness?
By a complete consecration to the Divine and a loving surrender to the Divine’s Will. Blessings. 15 May 1944 Each thought turned towards oneself veils the Divine. 25 August 1944 We must be free of all selfishness to serve properly the Divine’s Cause. 26 May 1954 Page ― 278 Selfishness and self-pity lead nowhere. You would do better to get rid of them ― for it is these two narrow movements which prevent you from feeling the Divine’s help and love. 25 March 1965 Pride: a great obstacle to progress.
It is not the soul but the ego and its pride that feel defeat and humiliation.
Vanity: one of the most frequent forms of falsehood.
It is better to be than to seem to be. Vanity is the most serious obstacle to true greatness.
There was a time when your amour-propre was a great help. It saved you from doing many stupid things by telling you that Page ― 279 they were beneath your dignity. But now it is the greatest obstacle in your way.
We should always be on our guard against the interference of the ego, shouldn’t we, Mother?
Certainly this is correct. Ambition is always a source of disturbance and confusion. 16 May 1934 Detaching oneself from the ignorant actions of the mind and vital and from any kind of ambition, and allowing the Divine Mother to work according to Her own will, one can have inner as well as outer peace and happiness; and this, I think, is the way one can serve the Mother gratefully and sincerely. Is this not so?
Certainly, action without ambition and egoistic calculation is the condition of peace and felicity ― both inner and outer.
Behind all ambitions there is a Truth waiting for the opportune time to manifest. Now that the ambition is gone, it is time for the truth (the capacities and abilities) to manifest. Take great care not to become “swollen”; but I am with you, helping you, in order to do something interesting. Page ― 280
A part of my being has developed the bad habit of feeling miserable after Pranam. It gets jealous of certain people. Don’t you think I should have the strength to reject this obstacle?
Certainly ― but then you must do it in all sincerity and not accept these movements of jealousy in any way. 16 April 1934 I do not understand why my vital is always jealous of X. Apparently there is no valid reason.
There is never any reason for jealousy. It is a very low and ignorant movement. 20 April 1934 Jealousy comes from a narrowness of the mind and a weakness of the heart. It is a great pity that so many are attacked by it.
Jealousy with its escort of slanders is the output of the weak and the small. It deserves more pity than anger, and must leave us perfectly indifferent to it, enjoying the bliss of our unshakable certitude. Page ― 281 |