Question: Can the mind possess ego without the spirituality?
Sri Prabhuji:
Mind cannot possess Ego. A few points regarding Mind, Ego in case of a Ignorant person (ajnnani) and in case of a Enlightened Being (Jnani):
1. Mind has 4 functions – Manas (objective mind), buddhi (intellect), ahankara (ego), chitta ( memory). This is called antah karana.
2. Ego (ahankara) is cause for the problem of samsara.
3.Through “Meditation/Dhyana”, there can be, Mano laya which means ego is dormant as in sleep, samadhi. Mano nasha means destruction of ego.
4. Through “Self Enquiry Path” , Mano nasha will happen which destroys only ego. Manas, buddhi, chitta are not destroyed. In fact Manas, buddhi, ahankara work efficiently under the guidance of Atma (Sakshi) for jnani (Enlightened Being). Mano nasha means destruction of ego not other functions of mind.
5. Intellect works under guidance of ego in case of ajnani. This is called samsara. Mind is restless in ajnani because of ego.
6. In case of jnani ego is destroyed. Hence intellect works under guidance of Sakshi. Hence mind is silent.
7. Ego is ‘I am body’ thought. In sleep, ego is in subtle form of memory. On waking up ego comes up as thought.
8. In case of Samadhi, ‘I am Brahman’ thought will be there in subtle form. This is Mano laya since even ‘I am Brahman’ is a thought. Brahman is not yet recognised as SELF.
9. In case of jnani, ego thought disappears.
10. There are two parts for mind – conceptual mind (ego) and functional mind (buddhi, manas, chitta).
Mano Nasha results in destruction of conceptual mind. Functional mind continues.
11. In Mano Nasha, person is established in Sahaj samadhi. Ego does not appear in waking, dreaming, deep sleep state.
12. In case of Mano laya of samadhi state, ego is modified from I am body to I am Brahman. This ego is dormant in samadhi, deep sleep – this is called Mano laya.