Ego In Western And Indian Psychology

SR No.: 269703
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jacques Vigne
Publisher: Jacques Vigne
Total Pages: 6
Language: English
Classification: Article
File Size: 804 KB

Page 6

JACQUES VIGNE NOTES & REFERENCES Quoted hy Barrere in Choisir de ne pas vieillir (choosing not to grow old), Troisieme Millenairc, n. 37, p. 88. 2 Vignc Jacques, Indian Wisdom, Christianity and Modern Psychology, ch. 14 and 15, BRPC, Delhi, 1996, also available on the Internet, see below. 3 Einstein Albert, Ideas and Opinions, Crown Publishers, 1954, and Rupa, 1993, p. 12. Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, Advaita Ashrama, Calcutta, 1994, p. 22. 5 Ma Anandamayi Vie en jeu, presented by JC Marol Accarias, Paris, 1995, p. 81. 6 Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, op. cit. p. 24. 7 Nisargadatta Maharaj, Seeds of Consciousness, Acorn Press, p. 164. 8 ibidl., p. 17. 9 Varela Francisco, L'inscriptin corporelle de l'esprit' Seuil, 1993, p. 8. 10 Walkins JG, in BB Wolman Handbook of States of Consciousness, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York, 1986, p. 134 sqq. Il Those who want more information on the topics of cgo and personality in Indian thought should scc The Indian Cultural Heritage of India, Vol. III, The Philosophics, part on personality. "The Seer is Really the Self' Cgnorance is the cause of egoism, attach- ignorance. We think of man, and see man ment, aversion, and clinging to life. as body. This is the great delusion.... . These impressions exist in different The seer is really the Self, the pure states. They are sometime:s dormant. You one, the ever holy, the infinite, the immoroften hear the expression 'innocent as a . tal. This is the Self of man. And what are baby,' yet in the baby may be the state of a the instruments? The Chitta or mind-stuff, demon or of a god, which will come out by the Buddhi or determinative faculty, the degrees. In the Yogi, these impressions, Manas or mind, and the Indriyas or sensethe Samskaras left by past actions, are at organs. These are the instruments for him tenuated, that is, exist in il very fine state, to see the external world, and the identifiand he can control them, and not allow cation of the Self with the instruments is them to become manifest. 'Overpowered' what is called the ignorance of egoism. We means that sometimes one set of impres- say, 'I am the mind,' 'I am thoug!t,' 'I am sions is held down for a while by those that angry,' or 'I am happy'. How can we be are stronger, but they come out when that angry and how can we hate? We should repressing cause is removed. The last state identify ourselves with the Self that cannot is the 'expanded,' when the Samskaras, change. If it is unchangeable, how can It be having helpful surroundings, attain to a one moment happy, and one moment ungreat activity, either as good or evil.... happy? It is formless, infinite, omnipres All the different sort; of impressions ent. What can change It? It is beyond all have one source, ignorance. We have first law. What can affect it? to learn what ignorance is. All of us think, 'I am the body, and not the Self, the pure, - From The Complete Works of Swami the effulgent, the ever blissful,' and that is Vivekananda, Vol. I, pp. 237-238 178