You know that saying – “Ahankaar se bada rog nahi” (There’s no disease greater than ego)? Our grandparents weren’t wrong.
Here’s something beautiful: whether you open the Bhagavad Gita, the Analects, or Bahá’í writings, they all point to the same truth – overcoming ego is the path to awakening.
Think about it. How often do we operate on autopilot – reacting, attaching, defending our small sense of ‘I’? This ego, as Sri Ramakrishna beautifully explained, is like a cloud covering the sun. The sun (God, truth, reality) is always there, but we can’t see it because our ego blocks the view.
The Bahá’í prophet Bahá’u’lláh urges us to “consume egotistical veils with the fire of oneness.” Confucius taught that returning to proper conduct requires overcoming the self. Even modern thinkers like Professor L. James March remind us: we’re “minor blips in a cosmic story.”
Why does this matter?
Because when we let go of ego, magic happens. We cultivate mindfulness, humility, and selflessness – qualities that don’t just transform us individually but uplift our entire society. As we say, “Khud ko mitao, khuda ko pao” (Erase yourself to find the divine).
The practice differs across traditions, but the wisdom remains universal: your ego isn’t your friend; it’s the barrier between you and your highest self.
So here’s a gentle question: What would change if you let go of needing to be right, important, or recognized – even for one day?
With warmth and reflection,
