Ego-Even though it may sound ordinary to hear these words, but according to Osho, it is a poison within the human being, which gradually eats the soul. Osho Rajneesh, who was world famous for his original thoughts and intensive spiritual attitudes, described ego as the greatest obstruction in the path of self-knowledge. According to him, “Ego is a fake ‘I’ that we have coined by society, education and experiences – and this fake ‘I’ never lets us meet our real existence.”
Ego signs: Are you also a victim of this?
Osho has given some clear signs of recognizing the ego, which if not understood in time, the person can be spiritual and mentally hollow: The insistence of always being proved right: If you have a habit of proving yourself right in everything, then it is the first sign of ego. Osho says – “The person who knows the truth does not argue, he listens peacefully, because he does not have to prove himself.” To be considered superior to others: When we believe that we know that we know more than others, are better, are more experienced – then this feeling arises from ego.
Not being able to tolerate criticism: If someone criticizes you and you get hurt immediately, get irritated or react, it means that a ‘delicate ego’ is sitting inside you.
Appreciation hunger: Osho says, “Whoever has knowledge of his existence does not need praise. He knows what he is.” But if you are always looking for a compliment, it is a sign of both emptiness and ego inside.
A sense of loneliness and erosion: Egoistic person often feels different from others. He wants to appear above instead of joining – and this feeling eventually makes him alone.
According to Osho, how does ego become?
Osho believed that when the child is born, there is no ego inside him. He only knows ‘being’, not ‘show’. But as he grows up, society, parents, school, religion-all tell him what he is and what is not. Gradually he wears a mask, and he starts to understand this fake identity as ‘I’. This is a false ‘I’ ego.
How to remove ego? Osho’s sight solution
Self-objection
Osho repeatedly says, “Look, just look.” Whenever you find yourself in a response, anger, sorrow or pride – see yourself. Without decision. The process of viewing gradually gives rise to awareness within you, which burns the ego.
Meditation
Osho’s attention methods such as “Dynamic Meditation”, “Kundalini Meditation”, “Nadabrahm meditation” are not just to bring peace, but to remove false coverings within. Meditation is the tool that separates the layers of ego without struggle.
Love and humility
Osho says, “Love is the only energy that can destroy the ego.” When you truly love someone, then you break the boundaries of ‘I’ and ‘Tu’. Similarly, humility should not be a pretense but inner situation – where you know that you too are a small part of this universe, not its center.
Develop humor
Osho’s discourses often give a glimpse of humor among esoteric subjects. He believed that “an egoistic person cannot laugh, because he takes himself very seriously.” Learn to laugh at yourself, this is the beginning of humility.
Accept rejection
One should not run away from negative experiences or rejection of people in life. When you accept rejection, then you do not need to prove yourself – and this is where the ego starts to weaken.
In the eyes of Osho, the ego is not to be killed – just to recognize it. As soon as you see the false ‘I’ within your inner, it starts disappearing. With the help of meditation, awareness and love, we can live this life with ease, humility and peace. Remember, the stronger the ego looks, the more hollow. Osho says – “Where there is’ I ‘, there is no God. Where there is God,’ I do not survive.”
