All accidents, anxieties, troubles and wicked exertions proceed from ego and self-confidence. Hence I deem ego to be like a disease. This world resembles a long continuous night in which our ego, like a hunter, spreads the snare of affections. All that I have eaten, done or offered in sacrifice under the influence of ego have gone for nothing. The absence of ego is the real good. Everything belongs to God and we must learn to rid ourselves from the false concept of ‘me’ and ‘mine’. I am free from anxiety, O sage, ever since I have come to know the impermanence of all enjoyments, gave up my sense of egoism, and attained tranquillity of my mind.

1. 1
Yoga Vashishtha of Valmiki
Book I, Chapter 15
Denunciation of Ego
Book I, Chapter 15
Denunciation of Ego
Rama continued:
1Egoism springs from false conceit fostered by vanity. I
am much afraid of this enemy, baneful egotism.
2All men in this diversified world, even the very
poorest of them, fall into the dungeon of evils and
misdeeds under the influence of ego.
3All accidents, anxieties, troubles and wicked
exertions proceed from ego and self-confidence.
Hence I deem ego to be like a disease.
4Being subject to that everlasting arch-enemy, the cynic
ego, I have refrained from food and drink. What other
enjoyment is there for me to partake?
5This world resembles a long continuous night in
which our ego, like a hunter, spreads the snare of
affections.
6All our great and intolerable miseries, growing as rank
as thorny acacia plants, are only the results of our ego.
7It overcasts the equanimity of mind like an eclipse
shadows the moon. It destroys our virtues like frost
destroys lotus flowers. It dispels the peace of men as
autumn drives away the clouds. Therefore, I must get
rid of this egoistic feeling.

2. 2
Yoga Vashishtha of Valmiki
Book I, Chapter 15
Denunciation of Ego
8I am not Rama the prince. I have no desire, nor should
I wish for wealth, but I wish to have the peace of my
mind and remain like the self-satisfied old sage Jina.
9All that I have eaten, done or offered in sacrifice under
the influence of ego have gone for nothing. The absence
of ego is the real good.
10So long, O Brahmin, as there is ego, he is subject to
sorrow at his difficulties. If he is devoid of it, he
becomes happy. Hence it is better to be without it.
11I am free from anxiety, O sage, ever since I have
come to know the impermanence of all
enjoyments, gave up my sense of egoism, and
attained tranquillity of my mind.
12As long, O Brahmin, as the cloud of egoism covers our
minds, our desires expand themselves like Kurchi plant
buds in rain.
13But when the cloud of egoism is dispersed, the
lightning of greed vanishes away, just like when a lamp
is extinguished, its light immediately disappears.
14The mind vaunts with ego, like a furious elephant in
the Vindhyan Hills when it hears thunder in the clouds.
15Ego is like a lion, living in the vast forest of all human
bodies, who ranges about at large throughout the whole
extent of this earth.

3. 3
Yoga Vashishtha of Valmiki
Book I, Chapter 15
Denunciation of Ego
16The self-conceited are decorated with a string of
pearls about their necks, of which greed forms the
thread and repeated births are the pearls.
17Our hostile enemy ego, like a magician, has
spread about us the enchantments of our wives,
friends and children, whose spells it is hard to
break.
18As soon as the impression of the word ego is effaced
from the mind, all our anxieties and troubles are wiped
out of it.
19The cloud of ego being dispelled from the sky of our
minds, the mist of error which it spreads to destroy our
peace will also disperse.
20I have given up my ego, yet my mind remains
stupefied with sorrow from my ignorance. Tell me, O
Brahmin, what do you think is right for me under these
circumstances?
21I have given up this egoism with much trouble,
and I would like to not depend upon this source
of all evil and worry any more. It retains its seat in
the breast only to annoy me, without benefiting
me by any good quality of its own. Direct me now,
you men of great understandings!
*******

4. 4
Yoga Vashishtha of Valmiki
Book I, Chapter 15
Denunciation of Ego
[Rama’s observations herein above are a lesson for all
seekers of Truth. All accidents, anxieties, troubles
and wicked exertions proceed from ego and self-
confidence.
Our hostile enemy ego, like a magician, has
spread about us the enchantments of our wives,
friends and children, whose spells it is hard to
break.
Everything belongs to God and we must learn to
rid ourselves from the false concept of ‘me’ and
‘mine’.
As soon as the impression of the word ego is effaced
from the mind, all our anxieties and troubles are wiped
out of it.]
[Jina: One that has conquered; conqueror; one that has
subdued his passions.
Sage Jina: In Hindu Mythology it is the name of an
eminent sage, the leader and founder of the Jaina sect;
name of Buddha as the subduer of sin.
Vaunt: Extravagant self-praise; show off.]
*******