The Ego and Its Destruction

The ego is the false identification with the body and mind. Ramana Maharshi taught that the ego must be destroyed through self-inquiry, revealing the true Self.

The ego is the false identification with the body and mind. It is the sense of "I am the body" or "I am the mind." This false identification is the root of all suffering. Ramana Maharshi taught that the ego must be destroyed through self-inquiry.

When one asks "Who am I?" and traces the "I" thought to its source, the ego is gradually destroyed. As the ego is destroyed, the true Self is revealed. The Self is not the body or the mind, but pure consciousness that is beyond both.

The destruction of the ego is not a violent act, but a natural process that occurs when one abides in the Self. As one continues the practice of self-inquiry, the ego naturally dissolves, revealing the Self that was always there.