Pujya Ramsukhdasji Maharaj

[Guest guest]

Egoism is the Main Obstacles in the Attainment of Knowledge

 

The main obstacle to freedom or the attainment of essential

knowledge is egoism. Due to the activities of Nature, believing this

body to be our Self, egoism associated with the identification with

the body is born. Due to this egoism, comes associations with a

country, and further comes association with one class, particular

stage in life (ashram), particular group or organization, etc and

through this thousands and millions of differences are manifested;

just like I am a Brahmin; I am a householder etc. The main point

here is that all differences arise due to egoism. As long as egoism

exists, till that time the differences are not wiped out.

 

Wherever there are differences, there is no knowledge and where

there is knowledge, there are no differences. Rather attainment of

freedom or realization of essential knowledge is only possible when

egoism is wiped out. Therefore in the Gita, wherever there is

description of spiritual disciplines for the attainment of

knowledge, there too there is talk of being free of egoism -

" Ahankaar eva cha " (Gita 13:8). Because the attainment of

knowledge, egoism associated with identification with the body is

the main obstacle - " Avyaktaah hi gatirdukham dehavadirvaapyate, "

(Gita 12:5) " Due to egoism from identification with the body, that

which is all pervading and unmanifested cannot be easily attained. "

 

" Sanskrut mool soolprad nana; sakal sauk daayak abhimaanaa. " (Manasa

7:74:3)

 

Therefore what is the difference between those who say that " I am a

Sanyaasi " (ascetic) and others who say - I am a householder

(grahastha); when it comes to egoism associated with the body? From

the perspectice of egoism associated with the body, they are both

alike. In reality, attainment of essential knowledge does not take

place in a Brahman (priestly class) or a kshatriya (warrior class),

or a householder (grahastha) or an ascetic (sannyasin); rather it is

attained by the seeker of knowledge (jigyaasu). And that seeker is

not a Brahmin or kshatriya etc.