(Continued from Issue 234)

    For the past few Issues, we have been looking at various psychological methods to reduce ego. In this Issue, we will look at a few more methods.

    The Sanatan organization has hermitages (ashrams) and centers in various locations around the world. Seekers who want to devote all their time to spiritual practice, live in these ashrams to practice Spirituality collectively. Other seekers, who are unable to devote all their time to spiritual practice, go to the various centers to seek opportunities to render service unto God. The organization provides seekers with various opportunities for services like helping with proofreading/translation of its publications/periodicals, cooking for seekers in the ashram, distributing its periodicals to subscribers, etc.

     Some seekers, depending on their spiritual practice and attitude of service, are given the responsibility of looking after these various aspects and activities. These seekers are referred to as senior seekers. Seekers attending spiritual meetings or who need to communicate something about the system or service opportunities, often come in contact with these senior seekers. Below are some suggestions to psychologically reduce one’s ego during such interactions.

Efforts in relation to talking to senior seekers that help in reduction of ego

One should not think that guiding seekers do not devote time for us: Everything occurs at the opportune moment. Sometimes when we wish to speak to senior seekers and if they are not able to speak to us at that moment, we feel bad. It is not correct to think that ‘Although I need to speak to senior seekers I cannot meet them at all or they do not give me any time at all’. Such thinking is a sign of ego. Instead, one should think, ‘The Lord shall plan when the senior seeker shall speak to me. If they speak to me now, I will not benefit much; hence, The Lord is not sending them to speak to me now. When I will benefit maximally, only then God Himself will send them to speak to me.’

One should not say that I cannot do a particular type of service (satseva): Conveying to the senior seekers that one cannot do or will not be able to do a particular service is a sign of ego. The reason for this is that The Lord Himself gives that kind of service to a seeker, which is essential for his spiritual progress. Therefore, a seeker should learn to behave according to God’s plan. Similarly, if there is a change in service, he should accept it happily since the change is also according to God’s wish. When a seeker commences doing a particular satseva that he is unable to do, he learns to behave against his own wishes. Gradually, he becomes self-confident while rendering any type of satseva and his fear of rendering service decreases. He then develops the divine quality of ‘fearlessness.’

Do not teach a senior seeker, rather learn from him: On account of their ego, some seekers try to teach the senior seekers themselves. Instead, a seeker should learn how the senior seekers converse or behave with others. A seeker should observe a senior seeker minutely. Spiritual progress occurs faster if one increases one’s power of observation and tries to execute actions well, like the senior seekers.

    In the next Issue we will continue to look at some more methods related to talking to guiding seekers to reduce ego.