Sikhi and Ego
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.
Ego is one of the five thieves within Sikhi and is just one form of Maya which exists to try and draw us away from the truth of Sikhi. In Punjabi it is referred to as Ahankar, and can be defined as the feeling of excessive pride or self-importance. These feelings may be as a result of attachment to worldly pleasures or material wealth. A person thinks that they are higher than others and that they are of more importance because they have more attributes than the other, and this is an example of Maya.
In Sikhi, we are taught by Guru Sahib, that we should remain humble and that we should devote our lives to Simran and Seva, without seeking any gain from doing this. When we accept that we serve Akaal Purakh, the true creator, then we are able to gain Nimrata (humility). However when we start to think that we have everything under our own control, that is where ego begins to grown and expand like an illness. We should take our human life as a blessing and we should take time to recognise that this is a chance which we only get ever 84 million life cycles, and we should make the most of it. Ultimately, ego leads to inequality and this draws us away from the key principles of Sikhi. We are all equal, and we all serve the same creator, no matter which religion we follow. We all strive to connect with the true Lord, in which ever way that may be. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji writes:
ਨਾਨਕ ਹੁਕਮੈ ਜੇ ਬੁਝੈ ਤ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਹੈ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥੨॥
Nānak hukmai je bujẖai ṯa ha▫umai kahai na ko▫e. ||2||
O Nanak, one who understands His Command, does not speak in ego. ||2||
Ego is one of the five thieves within Sikhi and is just one form of Maya which exists to try and draw us away from the truth of Sikhi. In Punjabi it is referred to as Ahankar, and can be defined as the feeling of excessive pride or self-importance. These feelings may be as a result of attachment to worldly pleasures or material wealth. A person thinks that they are higher than others and that they are of more importance because they have more attributes than the other, and this is an example of Maya.
In Sikhi, we are taught by Guru Sahib, that we should remain humble and that we should devote our lives to Simran and Seva, without seeking any gain from doing this. When we accept that we serve Akaal Purakh, the true creator, then we are able to gain Nimrata (humility). However when we start to think that we have everything under our own control, that is where ego begins to grown and expand like an illness. We should take our human life as a blessing and we should take time to recognise that this is a chance which we only get ever 84 million life cycles, and we should make the most of it. Ultimately, ego leads to inequality and this draws us away from the key principles of Sikhi. We are all equal, and we all serve the same creator, no matter which religion we follow. We all strive to connect with the true Lord, in which ever way that may be. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji writes:
ਨਾਨਕ ਹੁਕਮੈ ਜੇ ਬੁਝੈ ਤ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਹੈ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥੨॥
Nānak hukmai je bujẖai ṯa ha▫umai kahai na ko▫e. ||2||
O Nanak, one who understands His Command, does not speak in ego. ||2||
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 1)
This is one of the key teachings, and also one of the first things which were said by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj after his enlightenment. This can be found on the first Ang of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj. If we understand the true message of Sikhi, and we accept the Hukam of Guru Sahib, then we will know the consequences of speaking in ego. When we are successful we should thank Guru Sahib for the blessings which we have been granted, and we should owe all of our earnings to the creator. It isn't down to us! It is down to Akaal Purakh! Those who become egotistic, also become Manmukhs. They do not care about others, they only care about themselves, they are self willed. Guru Ji says that without the Shabad, ego will not leave our minds. Where there is ego, there is no God. So if we want to grow nearer to God, then we should begin by removing ego from our minds.
We can all take steps into pulling ourselves away from Maya, by removing our ego and instead, replacing it with love for Guru Sahib. When we do this, we are able to accept that everything, good or bad, happens by the Hukam of Guru Ji and nothing else. Guru Sahib is the reason behind every single thing that happens in our lives and we should not forget that. May Guru Ji bless us all with the kirpa to continue to fight the five evils.
- Daas
This is one of the key teachings, and also one of the first things which were said by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj after his enlightenment. This can be found on the first Ang of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj. If we understand the true message of Sikhi, and we accept the Hukam of Guru Sahib, then we will know the consequences of speaking in ego. When we are successful we should thank Guru Sahib for the blessings which we have been granted, and we should owe all of our earnings to the creator. It isn't down to us! It is down to Akaal Purakh! Those who become egotistic, also become Manmukhs. They do not care about others, they only care about themselves, they are self willed. Guru Ji says that without the Shabad, ego will not leave our minds. Where there is ego, there is no God. So if we want to grow nearer to God, then we should begin by removing ego from our minds.
We can all take steps into pulling ourselves away from Maya, by removing our ego and instead, replacing it with love for Guru Sahib. When we do this, we are able to accept that everything, good or bad, happens by the Hukam of Guru Ji and nothing else. Guru Sahib is the reason behind every single thing that happens in our lives and we should not forget that. May Guru Ji bless us all with the kirpa to continue to fight the five evils.
Bhul chuk maaf karni (forgive me for my many mistakes).
- Daas
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