384 Aptavani-2
occasions people will call you useless and tell you to get out?
People will not associate with you if they feel they will lose their reputation.‘ What would be my worth?’ they fear. This kind of ego is mad and foolish. Before Gnan I too had an ego, but it was a wise ego. I was dear to several people. And there would be at least four cars parked in front of my house everyday. But even then the ego used to bother me and I felt that if the ego were to leave, then I would be the king of this world. The ego should be beautiful. What is the point of having a beautiful body and an ugly ego? You can make do with an ugly body but the ego should not be ugly. Many people have ugly faces, but their ego is so beautiful that people will welcome them with open arms,‘ Welcome sir. Come in.’
What is the need for the ego? How can we even keep it alive? The one that has made you miserable for infinite lives is nothing but an enemy. Why must you abandon your position as the ruler of the world and delve into petty things like‘ this is mine’ and‘ this is yours’?
The ego is a crazy thing; you should not accept it even if someone were to give it to you for free. You have to remain in the Self, you have to become the Self and the moment the mad ego arises, throw it out.
No intoxication of ego where there is Atmagnan Kavi has written:
‘ Atmagnan saral sidhu, sahaj thaye chhakey nahi.’“ Atmagnan is simple and straightforward; it will not go astray if you remain natural and spontaneous.”
If the Atmagnan of the vitarag becomes natural and spontaneous; if you attain true Gnan, then it will not cause intoxication. If you attain the Soul the vitarag bestows, then there will be no intoxication. But when others give you Gnan, the