What is Knowledge : Ch-7.21.

Chapter 7: Yoga Discipline-21.

I began to tell you that egoism is mostly associated with the function of consciousness within the physical frame of the individual. It is a self-affirmation of the physical individuality, coupled with mental action. It can be a family affirmation, a communal affirmation, a social type of affirmation, or any kind of attachment, for the matter of that. Egoism is that vehemence of conscious behaviour which attaches itself to a particular area only, as if outside it nothing is and nothing can be.

But, what is spirituality? What is religion? What do we mean by the practice of yoga? It is the inner aspiration deeply felt within everyone to be set in a state of union with Reality as such – being qua being. This aspiration to be in a state of harmony with Reality may be considered by everyone as a source of happiness, satisfaction and well being, but it may limit itself to a finite form or a totally distorted shape of reality that is conceived by oneself. For the purpose of pure psychoanalytic studies, reality is nothing but social existence.

This may be a sort of reality, and we all know how far we are hanging on the opinions of others, and how difficult it would be for us to exist in the world if society were not to cooperate with us. This is something we can accept, and we have to accept. But this is not the whole reality. We can be unhappy for other reasons, even if the whole of human society is friend. Even if all humanity adores you as a genius, a master and a great hero, and considers you as its well-wisher and is your friend, you can be unhappy for reasons other than those which you thought were the cause of your unhappiness.

Swami Krishnananda
 To be continued ....