Page 9 - NAMAH-Jul-2019

Namah Editorial

develops an ‘ego-idea’ about his or her own coherence to what otherwise might be a string or
self-existence. By the time one reaches pre- mass of floating impressions: all that is so sensed
adolescence, the ego-idea starts supporting is referred to a corresponding artificial centre
the formation of a desire-soul. Later, as one of mental consciousness in the understanding,
grows towards adulthood, the ego becomes the ego-idea. This ego-sense in the life-stuff and
more and more structured. The ego can now this ego-idea in the mind maintain a constructed
be recognised in different poises. There is symbol of self, the separative ego, which does
the mental ego which supports one’s world- duty for the hidden real self, the spirit or true
view that can be zealously safeguarded against being. The surface mental individuality is,
other world-views. There is the vital ego in consequence, always ego-centric; even its
which supports one’s style of dynamism and altruism is an enlargement of its ego: the ego
one’s emotional character and bolsters one’s is the lynchpin invented to hold together the
self-esteem. There is the physical ego which motion of our wheel of nature. The necessity of
maintains one’s physique and bodily habits. centralisation around the ego continues until
The different poises of the ego do not seem there is no longer need of any such device or
to have a harmony amongst themselves. As a contrivance because there has emerged the true
result the ego is often skewed in its functioning. self, the spiritual being, which is at once wheel
Moreover the desire-soul, supported by the and motion and that which holds all together,
ego can be so assertive about its own demands the centre and the circumference (2)”.
and preferences that it can foster disharmony
between individuals and clash with the interests Actually the true self or spiritual being was
of the collectivity. It is because of the ego that, till always behind the manifestation; it had
now, a perfect harmony between the individual projected a soul-spark to initiate the process
and the collectivity has not been worked out. of individuation from the undifferentiated
matrix of the Inconscience. However the
However the saga of the ego is one aspect soul-spark remains hidden behind and for
of individuality. It is true that the emergent practical purposes, the ego-sense builds
being from the Inconscience has to arise, with up the scaffolding of individuality that
the ego as scaffolding. Yet the sanction for gradually emerges to assert itself.The soul-
the individuality to emerge was ordained spark remains hidden behind all the time but
by the Supreme and initiated by a divine also grows up through evolution to become
spark projected by the unevolving Spirit, the a soul-personality or Psychic Being. A time
true self. Could that one day come forward comes when the ego is no longer needed to
and replace the ego for a more harmonious hold the scaffolding. The soul-personality or
functioning of the individuality that at present is psychic being, if sufficiently developed, can
plagued by dualities and inconsistencies? Sri come forward to lead the individual through
Aurobindo explains that the ego is a temporary harmony and truth.
variable and it can be replaced by a fourth-
dimensional soul-principle — the Psychic Thus, in practical terms, the ego is a time-
Being. bound formation of Nature constructed
from the evolving physical, vital and mental
“It is this ego-sense that gives a first basis of planes of consciousness,“a mental form of

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