Avidya/Ego

[guest587]

So, in the video he mentions that before being sent to work in the back of the ashram he was already working in the front of house. Could it be that the boys were already familiar with Yogananda, which is why they flocked to him in the back? No doubt he offers us much wisdom. I'm just wondering aloud. For example, if I have a respected colleague who works specific duties- then my boss decides to put him somewhere else, I would still go to him versus the new guy. See what I mean???

In this video it is suggested that the ego is inferior and the cause of all misery. I don't have such a dismal view, I don't think it's something we destroy. Instead I see it more like a child who can align with the will of the father. No doubt the wisdom he bestows defining and recognizing Soul attributes are something many will feel true. Similarly, the ego can definitely "get the best of us." Yet what does that really mean? What is suffering after all if not to learn? I don't want to destroy the child(ego) I want to nurture it. A gentle attitude towards ones misfortunate may quell extremism which is a problem we face in todays political climate and something we have faced through out the ages. Is spiritual justice a trick of the ego? What is justice? What is spiritual? If we just assume the ego is the root of all evil I don't see us advancing, since it is very rare to be without ego. The ego is apparently something almost every human on this planet has to deal with. I think this is where the idea of destroying the ego and creating an allyship can be recognized as the same thing where definitions aren't so easily understood. Just like defining God or defining evil seem to be something left for philosophical inquiry... Words come close, but never completely capture the essence. There are some sounds that mean "like something" that has no existence in the english tongue.

Lastly, a separate inquiry, did not Yogananda curse his sister as a child? I believe I read that in the beginning of AoY.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Lastly, a separate inquiry, did not Yogananda curse his sister as a child? I believe I read that in the beginning of AoY.

Paramahansa Yogananda was not a Master or self realized as a child. His enlightenment came later in life when he was with Swami Yukteswar.


In Sufi terms the crushing of the ego is called Nafs Kushi. And how do we crush it? We crush it by sometimes taking ourselves to task. When the self says, 'O no, I must not be treated like this,' then we say, 'What does it matter?' When the self says, 'He ought to have done this, she ought to have said that,' we say, 'What does it matter, either this way or that way? Every person is what he is; you cannot change him, but you can change yourself.' That is the crushing ... It is only in this way that we can crush our ego. —

~Hazrat Inayat Khan

So, in the video he mentions that before being sent to work in the back of the ashram he was already working in the front of house. Could it be that the boys were already familiar with Yogananda, which is why they flocked to him in the back? No doubt he offers us much wisdom. I'm just wondering aloud. For example, if I have a respected colleague who works specific duties- then my boss decides to put him somewhere else, I would still go to him versus the new guy. See what I mean???

If the ‘new guy’ understood that you might go to the ‘respected colleague’ then it would be ok. But in the case of Yogananda’s story the ‘new guy’ complained. In the same way I could tell stories about others who have been here at the portal and they complained but not react or be affected by those who were part of the story. Their lessons in life may not be mine.

[guest587]

Yes, I suppose. Fortunately they both had a Master there to counsel them, even if he set the whole experience up to begin with.

It would appear even HIK says one must CRUSH or DESTROY or ANNHILIATE the Ego. Such choice words, I just wonder- is it reflective of the culture? the age period? masculine solar energy? Or is there really no other choice?

At least these beautiful Masters recognize the battle within- and recognize everything as God. 

I don't think it necessary to destroy the ego. More like, "fine-tuning" an instrument. We can go through life in a way that we recognize proper pitch and even the hands that tune an instrument. It takes time, years and even lifetimes to recognize. It's how we get to the illusory notion, "no ego" since we all have one but we can have one that reflects more than not the Father.

Just like Christ, Yogananda is a reflection of the Father... At least- Anandamayi Ma would call him so. And to me... She is Divine Mother.

And she is the one who recognizes change and changelessness existing simultaneously.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Just like Christ, Yogananda is a reflection of the Father... At least- Anandamayi Ma would call him so. And to me... She is Divine Mother.

And she is the one who recognizes change and changelessness existing simultaneously.

From SRI MA one can but rarely get a definite decision on any problem. That is why I wondered of what use it was to write down her utterances? I asked SRI MA about it.

 

SRI MA: At least you have understood that there is a state, ’where’ problems are no longer settled in any particular way. In the course of your life you have after careful consideration come to a decision on many questions, have you not? But now you will have to realize that no solution is ever conclusive; in other words, you will have to go beyond the level where there is certainty and uncertainty. The resolution of a problem arrived at by the mind must of necessity be from a particular point of view; consequently there will he room for contradiction, since your solution represents but one aspect. What then have you actually solved? You will find a complete and final solution of each particular question from its own particular angle of emergence; and you will also find that there is a place where all problems (actual and possible) have but one universal solution, in which there is no longer any room left for contradiction. The question of solution or non-solution will then cease to arise: whether one says ‘yes’ or ‘no’, - everything is THAT.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Just like Christ, Yogananda is a reflection of the Father... At least- Anandamayi Ma would call him so. And to me... She is Divine Mother.

And she is the one who recognizes change and changelessness existing simultaneously.

From SRI MA one can but rarely get a definite decision on any problem. That is why I wondered of what use it was to write down her utterances? I asked SRI MA about it.

 

SRI MA: At least you have understood that there is a state, ’where’ problems are no longer settled in any particular way. In the course of your life you have after careful consideration come to a decision on many questions, have you not? But now you will have to realize that no solution is ever conclusive; in other words, you will have to go beyond the level where there is certainty and uncertainty. The resolution of a problem arrived at by the mind must of necessity be from a particular point of view; consequently there will he room for contradiction, since your solution represents but one aspect. What then have you actually solved? You will find a complete and final solution of each particular question from its own particular angle of emergence; and you will also find that there is a place where all problems (actual and possible) have but one universal solution, in which there is no longer any room left for contradiction. The question of solution or non-solution will then cease to arise: whether one says ‘yes’ or ‘no’, - everything is THAT.

I find Ma’s assessment about solutions solved by the intellect as very helpful. Because the mind gives a view  that is arrived at from the viewers point of view, which emerges from their ego concerns. Whether one says to this ‘yes’ or ‘no’, everything is THAT. So perhaps 🤔 while the view of others and the solutions arrived at comes from a particular angle of emergence…. The question of solution or non solution is yet unattainable and may necessitate the element of time to recognize THAT. I’m of the opinion that all these contradictions will manifest until THAT has come into being.  In the meantime we still experience the ego in ourselves and others. We at times can only wait as the power of the ego of others around us determines temporary circumstances, which at times we must acknowledge until we find ourselves beginning to be under the guidance of the dark presence of their ego. At which time we may  have to take a new and different approach that integrates the momentum of dharma and the souls direction.