The philosopher and spiritual guru Osho, who understands the complexity of the human mind and the process of self -realization, has presented countless original views on subjects like life, love, death, meditation and ego. Osho believes that man’s ego is not born, but it is gradually manufactured with his development. Especially in childhood, when the child is growing up, then along with his personality, his “ego” also increases. Osho’s ideas in this subject touch the deep dimensions of modern psychology.
Osho says that when an infant is born, he is a pure consciousness. It has neither “I” nor “you” – that only. But as he comes in contact with society, family and rites, he starts creating an image about himself. This image is of the ‘I’ which is not really its nature, but a mask accused by the society. This mask later becomes his ego.
In childhood, when the child says ‘mother’ and mother gives love in response, he learns that “Mother recognizes me”, that is, I exist. Gradually he starts defining his existence through words-my toy, my book, my room-and from here the journey of ‘I’ and ‘My’ begins. According to Osho, this journey begins to strengthen the roots of ego.
Society, schools and families often keep the child on the test of comparison. “Look, how well Sharma’s son reads”, or “how intelligent your sister is”, such things give rise to the child’s feeling of self-image and becoming superior to others. This feeling later turns into a desire for competition and domination, which is the most clear form of ego.
Osho also makes it clear that having ego is not a problem, if a person understands its nature. Actually, she calls it ‘false identity’ – a kind of fake wall that cuts us with its real soul. Ego draws us to external success, praise of others, respect and power, but makes us hollow from inside.
Osho believes that until the person joins his inner consciousness, he remains under the ego. They consider meditation to be the main means of getting out of this state. Through meditation, a person can see himself – without any role, without any identity. As soon as the person is able to see himself, the ego falls like a lie and experiences a new light.
In the view of Osho, the first step of self -realization is to know that what I think is not really. Till this realization is not there, the person is lodged in the ego jail. And this gel keeps him away from true bliss, love and peace of life. Thus Osho not only help us understand the development of ego, but also shows the path to be free from it. His message is clear – “Get rid of what you learned in childhood. He is the root of your sorrows.”
