Aptavani-9
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abhimaan (ego with ‘my-ness’) about his home, people will still
say that this is his ego.
It is not wrong to have an ego. Ego is just to claim to be
what one is not. That is the only error of the ego, nothing more.
Now what is maan (pride)? It is when one wears nice
clothes but rolls up his sleeves so that people can see a three-
thousand-rupee watch on his wrist. Then when someone asks,
‘How are you sheth?’ you can clearly see his pride. Maan is
“ego with rich materials”. He will wear expensive clothes,
jewels, etc. That is maan.
Questioner: What is the difference between an ahamkari
and a maani person?
Dadashri: An ahamkari (egotistic) person does not
have any fear of being insulted (upmaan) whereas a maani
(person with pride) does. If a person has pride (maan) then
he will be affected by insults (upmaan), but what if he has no
pride?
Questioner: But when his ego is broken, will he not feel
insulted?
Dadashri: No that is simply called breaking the ego. But
only if there is maan, there will be upmaan.
What is abhimaan (pride with ‘my-ness’)? If a person
has possessions, he will tell others about them; that is what we
call abhimaan. Everyone does this; people cannot refrain from
telling others about their possessions. But when is it considered
abhimaan? The ego is there for sure but suppose you are going
to a shop and you are in hurry, someone you know stops you,
you ask him, ‘What is it? I am in a hurry’, he will say, ‘These
are my homes, these two buildings and those two buildings are
mine.’ That is called abhimaan. ‘Why are you telling me now,
I have to go. Why are you bothering me?’ But he is showing
abhimaan. He will tell you how good something is even when