This Above alL
Ego, the root of many ills
Khushwant Singh

TILL I read an article by Osho Rajneesh, it had not occurred to me that most of us spend a lot of time comparing ourselves to others. We envy those who are doing better, feel superior to those who are not doing as well as we. In both cases they have negative results— one gives us a superiority complex, the other an inferiority complex. Neither is good for mental equilibrium. Therefore, stop comparing yourself with others. Comparisons are odious. I believe that the itch to compare oneself to others is an aspect of the ego problem.

The more one thinks of oneself, the more the desire to compare oneself with others. Ego is, as Guru Nanak said, deeragh rog (A foul disease). In it also lies its cure: Daroo bhee iss maahein (Use your will power to get the better of it). Make your own prescription for the medicine and take it in regular doses. If your self-made prescription goes wrong, it can worsen your condition. I have an amusing example given to me by Dharma Kumar, one of the brightest brains and a mimic I met in my life. She died a few years ago. I keep her photograph on a table facing me.

Her story was about a cousin who was exceptionally good at his studies—a topper in school and college who won a full scholarship to Oxford University, where he again got the first division, and was elected president of the university students’ union. He was also somewhat of a guru and had a number of admiring students as his chelas, who came to hear his pravachans. He told them about problems caused by ego and the necessity of overcoming it.

One day a girl disciple asked him: "Sir, I agree with you about the ego but tell us how one goes about conquering it." "Good question," replied guruji. "With my background it poses a bigger problem for me than it does for you people. I have devised a formula for the extinction of ego. In the mornings and evenings I perform padma asan (lotus pose), shut my eyes and repeat I am not Raghavan Iyer who stood first in the matriculation examination in Madras. I am not Raghavan Iyer who stood first in all exams in college. I am not Raghavan Iyer who got a first class first from Oxford University. I am not Raghavan Iyer, the most brilliant philosopher from the oriental world. I am merely a spark of the Divine.’’

In the evening recitation he changed the last line to: "I am merely a vehicle of the mahatmas". It is said that though he agreed to have his name put up for president of the university students’ union, he did not bother to canvass for himself. His admirers did that and saw that he won. When the result was announced, they rushed to his room to break the good news. He was in deep meditation. He took his time before opening his eyes. With a beatific smile on his face, he pointed his index finger heavenwards and proclaimed solemnly: "Victory is thine, O Lord". This is exactly what an exercise for self-extinction should not be.

Saintly visionary

"Schools are more important than temples. We have plenty of temples but millions of our children remain neglected. So every gurdwara I build, I make sure there is a school attached to it". This coming from a 67-year-old man who can only read and write Gurmukhi and who spent most of his years reciting the Gurbani and performing kirtans was a pleasant surprise. The man I am writing about is Amar Singh Barundiwaley. He lost both his parents when he was only eight. His guardians decided to train him as a sevadar, preacher of the Gurbani and raagi (hymn singer). His dedication to his work earned him respect in towns and villages around Jagraon and Ludhiana district. From Bhai Amar Singh he became Baba Amar Singh to Sant Amar Singh to Sant Baba Amar Singh Barundiwaley.

He helped building schools across the country and England, including one at Malegaon for Muslim girls He is as secular a man of religion as I have met. He continues to have his feet firmly in the past while his vision is in the future. He sat by me—flowing white beard, wearing khaddar kurta-pajama, sipping tea and holding a rosary, while I sipped my Scotch and munched canapes. I asked him what his next venture was going to be. He replied: "I am going to start an air service from Amritsar to Nanded. Most Sikhs give top priority to two places for pilgrimage—Harmandar Sahib (Amritsar) and Hazoor Sahib (Nanded). Getting to Nanded by rail and road is tedious. So while the government is making an air-strip not far from the gurdwara, I will organise an air service. Within two hours after leaving Amritsar in the morning, picking up others from Delhi, pilgrims will get to their destination by the afternoon. Pilgrims’ flights are expected to start operations by next year.’’

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