Ego is a latent force in an individual organism, which determines the `fight or flight’ mechanism when one encounters threats from outside. Music plays an effective role in ‘sizing up’ one’s ego to a containable level. Read on to know how….
Ego, like consciousness or soul, is considered the very essence of one’s being. Without ego, the ‘being’ does not strive towards ‘becoming’. Ego is a latent force in an individual organism, which determines the `fight or flight’ mechanism when one encounters threats from outside. Thus ego is much-needed for the survival of a living being.
Though ego is latent and deep-rooted, it cannot be hidden all the time. People who can act and behave artificially can suppress their ego through body gestures and calculated speech. But many times, ego becomes evident in their words and gestures.
Psychological complexes – such as inferiority and superiority complexes- work on the principles of ego. One feels good or bad — due to satisfaction or dissatisfaction of his or her ego. This would mean that ‘feeling good and positive’ — which is considered the essential trait for a healthy living- is controlled by the conditions of one’s ego-satisfaction.
Ego-Boosters
The ancient epics and legends such as Ramayana and Mahabharata are full of stories reflecting the boosting and bursting of ego of individuals that build – and destroy them too. They are meant for warning people of the tragedies that could occur in one’s life — if ego is not kept within control. Most ego-boosters identified in these stories are lives of plenty, power, riches, admiration and a coterie around to pamper and boost the ego.
The first ego-boosting exercise is done by the mother through her love and affection to a child. Then the family members also join in boosting the ego of the child. Care-taking itself is an ego-booster, which helps in satisfying the organism —psychologically. An example is how a zero is made into a hero- through ego-boosting!
One can see how Indians thrive in hierarchy- feeling elated by exhibiting their money power and muscle power! Political heavy weights openly allow their feet to be touched and kowtowed by their followers so that their ego remains satisfied. In old days, touching the elders feet was insisted upon in Indian culture. The idea is to burst the ego of those who touch the feet and not to boast the ego of those whose feet are touched. But today’s Indian politicians have interpreted this culture in an abusive manner: I have seen young and upstart political leaders expect their followers — even elderly ones — to come with folded hands and touch their feet — even before making eye contact! What is this maya! They don’t realize that such ego-boosting by fans and followers can make them suicidal one day when the situation changes abruptly!
A taste of ego makes the organism crave for ego-boosting. This is the main reason why people go for “friends” who help in boosting their ego through constant praise (called sometimes as ‘encouragement’). The human grouping is thus made where there is a mutual need for boosting each other’s ego — “If- you-scratch-my-back- I-will-scratch-yours” approach!
Ego-bursting
When the ego cannot be satisfied by an event, thing or a person, the individual (who are ‘pampered’ by ego-boosting events, things or persons and habituated this way) get a shock. He or she reacts (behaves) variously. Ranging from becoming depressed, suppressed, angry, cheated, disappointed, or even suicidal, his dissatisfaction is manifested in various ways —depending on situations and circumstances in which he or she is placed.
Great Lessons on Erasing Ego
Saints and sages in ancient India have many tales to tell how the ‘overgrown’ ego of rakshasas could be contained by devas. These tales conclude that ego-building is as natural as ego-bursting. Only difference is that while ego-boosting causes ego-satisfaction, the latter causes dissatisfaction or even pain and misery.
Indian philosophers like Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi would call ‘ego erasure’ (and not ‘ego killing’) as a means to achieve salvation. Perhaps we can call this concept as ego-balancing, as ego is very much needed for basic living which includes survival of the organism through satisfying hunger thirst, sex and other psychological and emotional needs that make the organism ‘healthy’ and ‘satisfied’.
How to balance the ego?
One can balance the ego — through physical, psychological and emotional means. The ancient Indians used all these methods so that `humility and fellow-feelings’ are generated which make humans human and away from their animal cousins. Some such methods are;
Fasting and Feasting: As one takes into fasting, one takes control of his/her basic needs such as hunger, thirst etc. through sheer will power. Such periodic fasts have helped people develop a will-power to conquer their own problems —which were created only by themselves!
Periodic fasts have helped people develop a will-power to conquer their own problems —which were created only by themselves!
Celibacy: Celibacy practised by great people like Gandhi also helps in similar ways. Something like the ‘mind over matter’ principle will lead towards controlling the mental cravings for ego-satisfaction.
Mantra-recitation: Mantras, when recited, help in avoiding unnecessary thinking and also negative thoughts in mind. Vedic recitation and other parayanas and chants in Hinduism and in all other great religions have helped people to overcome ego-boosting as well as ego-bursting. The great music culture of India (or elsewhere for that matter!) contributes toward ego-balancing through its frequently ascending/ descending scales and frequencies as a psychological intervention.
Moreover, the various emotions revealed in ragas and melodies have helped people to tether their mind to a sweep that is satisfying to the ego. Thus music plays an effective role in ‘sizing up’ one’s ego to a containable level.
Vedic recitation and other parayanas and chants in Hinduism and in all other great religions have helped people to overcome ego-boosting as well as ego-bursting.
This article was published in Ayurveda and All – September 2014
Edited by Geeta Shreedar, Nov. 15, 2021