 Although
our minds are infinite, we tend to limit ourselves through
our ego. Our ego does not really exist. We identify ourselves with this
illusory ego.
It is at the centre of all our relationships. This ego is certainly
needed for our existence: to get up, to work and to contribute to society.
However, we have minimal control over it. The ego is the first of the
five principal vices.
A great Eastern mystic, Nanak, the founder of Sikhism - affirmed:
"One comes and goes in ego. One takes birth and dies in ego.
One earns and loses in ego. One is truthful and false in ego. One is
virtuous and non-virtuous in ego. One rises to heaven and falls in
hell in ego.
One laughs and weeps in ego. One is emaciated and washed in ego.
One loses one’s real self in ego. One is foolish and wise in
ego and is not aware of Moksha (freedom). One is overpowered by Maya
and illusion in ego. (Maya is an Indian metaphysical concept that explains
appearance and reality; Maya creates ignorance and that which is false
appears as true). ….. If one can understand the ego, one can
realise bliss. Without knowledge one wastes one's life in fruitless
discussion."
Pride is when the mind feels arrogance. If we consider ourselves
as handsome or beautiful, wealthy or good at something, we use such
egocentric reasons as excuses for considering ourselves special and
develop pride. We consider ourselves superior to others for whatever
reason.
When we are filled with pride it is difficult to benefit much from
life. We are easily injured, abused and slighted. We suffer unhappiness
because we find few around us who share the same glorified perception
of ourselves; others appear disrespectful and inconsiderate to us.
This contributes to mental conflict and thus we feel stress.
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