Finally, only love will liberate the ego

The following is an excerpt from a samvaad (dialogue) session with Acharya Prashant.

Questioner: Acharya Ji, I have come to understand that reality for us is entirely dependent on the sensory apparatus that we use. Also, you have taught in the ‘Karma Yoga’ session that ‘Aham’ will always demand something and we should give Aham such a big thing that it dissolves itself in it.

Acharya Ji, I want to know what role does love play for Aham to dissolve itself?

Acharya Prashant (AP): A great role Shubhankar (Questioner), a huge role. You could even say probably the only role. Without love, there is no dissolution of the ego possible.

The ego is an attraction. Either the ego will be attracted towards its own stuff; stuff that is available in its own world, stuff that is available in its own dimension, or the ego would be attracted towards something beyond.

Though the fact of the matter is that even when the ego is attracted to its own stuff, it is actually searching for beyondness within its own stuff. That beyondness is unfortunately not available in the dimension of the ego but that’s what the ego nevertheless keeps hoping; one day within my own premises I will find the distant stars. One day on my dining table the moon will descend. That’s what the hope of the ego is.

Normally, usually, the ego, just keeps to itself. Staunchly refuses to look beyond itself. That is the real meaning of selfishness.

The ego will have great confidence, great belief in itself. Consequently, the ego will be attracted only towards things within its own fold. Therefore, the ego is an assurance against self-dissolution. If the ego is there, it will be very-very reluctant against any prospect of its elimination. It will want to remain the way it is; thirsty, hungry, suffering, nevertheless alive and kicking.

In fact, it is the thirst that the ego will come to equate with life. It is the stress and the tension that the ego will come to equate with life. The ego will say, “Whenever, I have called myself alive, throughout my life history, I have found myself in some kind of tension, suffering.” Therefore, suffering is an indicator of life. Hence, when the prospect of elimination of suffering would come, it…