What is Ego (aham)?

In this article we will discuss the spiritual definition of ego.

1. The spiritual definition of ego

From a spiritual perspective, ego (aham) means considering oneself to be distinct from others and God due to identification with the physical body and impressions (sanskārs) in various centres of the subtle body. In short, ego is leading our life as per the thinking that our existence is limited to our five senses, mind and intellect, and identifying ourselves with them to various degrees.

As per the science of Spirituality, our true state of existence is identification with the Soul or God Principle within us and living our day-to-day life with this consciousness. As the one and same God Principle exists within all, from a spiritual perspective there is unity in all Creation.

However, depending on the level of our ego, we identify with the God Principle within us, i.e. the Soul, to varying degrees. If our ego is high, we identify less with the Soul or the God Principle within us.

2. Ego from a psychological perspective

In layman's terms one can define ego as pride about oneself. Thoughts such as my body and mind, my intellect, my life, my wealth, my wife and my children, I should acquire happiness and so on, arise from ego alone.

Ego (ahankār), awareness of the self (ahambhāv), pride, conceit and 'i'ness are words related to the word 'ego' or 'aham' but on a psychological plane.

3. Subtle picture of a person having ego

The following is a subtle picture of a person with ego. It has been drawn by a seeker of SSRF* with a highly advanced sixth sense, extrasensory perception or ESP. The dark covering seen around the Soul is the ego of the person. As the ego of this person is high he does not identify with the Soul. Due to the ego, a covering of black energy has collected around him. Also, when one's ego is high, the flow of grace from God is blocked.

As a result of the black energy covering, coupled with the block in access to Divine grace, the person's life is impacted negatively.

* Source: Courtesy of Spiritual Science Research Foundation