Ego means “existence” in the Latin language.
We exist, so we have an ego. Or better said, we are ego. Because the person who perceives that they exists, naturally develops a feeling about this existence, which is peculiar or individual.
This identity provides us naturally with many potential scopes. We have to deal with the reality of our existence. Since we are talking about this subject of being born as human being, we can take the approach that I am this body, that my existence is this physical body which I am observing right now, and this mind with which I am thinking right now, and this intelligence, which allows me to compare, evaluate and reject. If I think like that, I will think that my body is the most important. I will think that my body is more important than the bodies of others. With the only exception being that if the others favor me, then I will accept them.
Those of different species I may consider as strange creatures that I shall watch out for or subjugate to my respective capricious ideas and the other human beings I would consider to be less in importance. There is a possibility that I may also treat them like animals, which means that I just watch out for them and try to subjugate them to my ego interest. Here ego touches also upon the concept of “survival of the fittest”, or the natural defense mechanism we all have within us.
So this approach to existence is quite dangerous, because from the very beginning, only those who are the first in subjugating or eliminating the others will survive.
We should also take in consideration, that this body of ours, which we cherish as being an important part of our existence is a mortal coil and always changing. Therefore to identify our existence with the changing body, until we die, really means that we do not have any real identity. Therefore, human beings have naturally searched for higher dimensions for their existence. They cannot but try to do so. It is part of their human condition. They have that spirit of trying to find knowledge about their identity and the belief in a higher existence, even though that realm is not visible to the eye.
The search which may continue after the physical ego existence is finished, has been the driving force of human culture since its beginning. It is also a fact that an existence without a meaning and without understanding the cause which brought this existence about is very difficult to cope with. Therefore, human beings throughout the ages have tried to find and to spell out, what is the meaning of our existence.
The Vedas have described the identification with this body as the false ego, ahankara, and the mentality of exploiting others the reason why we are in this material world, and that we have to suffer the reaction for any trouble we have given to any other living entity. The Vedas tell us about our real identity, our real ego, about our existence in a world where there is no more reincarnation, because there is no more death. They have explained that the meaning of life is to reach there.
The desire to reach that state of consciousness will motivate you to always act correctly. That area of consciousness and responsibility, we call “the healing circle” in OIDA therapy.
The higher dimensions are divided into different levels of identification. To become indifferent towards worldly pleasures and pains and to simply aspire for liberation and merging into the spiritual energy is a negation of our conscious search for loving relationships in the material existence. All those mystical traditions who have thought about loving God, serving God and having a personal relationship with Him, point to a higher region of our existence, which is the existence imbibed by pure devotion. It is from this type of understanding, that a person who wants to reach his eternal identity, has to be very careful to always be loving and of course correct in his conduct -according to his ability. To be loving and to prepare for an eternal loving existence, is both the medicine and the goal. Whatever mystical tradition can take our consciousness to that awareness is truly the greatest benediction of mankind. (see CD9)