I personally have issues with my own ego. It starts enjoying itself at the slightest instance. When someone praises me, the ego starts enjoying and basking in glory, when someone is nasty to me, it is wounded and starts grieving. I am aware of this and therefore I think we should always remain aware. My self concept is so bad that an internal dialogue kicks off at the slightest pretext. I know its all based on my ideas of self which I created during my growing up.
Yes clearly without a doubt we need to preserve all that is good for ourselves as well as the new generations. There is no doubt about it. All I mean is while doing that let not the ego feed off the situation. I think the issue of haumai is the core issue of Gurbani way of living. Guru Nanak poses it as the Principal point when He asks the question:
Ques- "Kiv Sachiara Hoyiai, Kiv Koorhe Tutteh Paal?"
Ans- "Hukam Rajaai Chalna, Nanak, Likhya Naal"
And in the next Pauri after explaining the concept of Hukam He further remarks that one who realizes the Hukam leaves off hie Haumai altogether:
"Nanak Hukamai Je Bujhai, Ta Haumai Kahai Na Koe"
Therefore to realise the working of the ever perfect Hukam and to live in this realisation and to leave off the egoic self the basic Sikhi. Everything we do, and anything we do, we need to check whether our haumai is receiving out of it. Ego is very tricky and it can even sustain itself through humility. While acting out of humility from outside, I sometimes get this feeling from inside,"Look at me, how humble I am".
For me Hukam is not a set of codes that is to be followed. It is not the 'right path'. It is everything, everything, the whole existence, the good , the bad and the ugly. Giani Sant Singh Maskeen says in his Japji Sahib Katha that it is possible to act in violation of Hukam and this is what results in Dukkha. I do not agree. I think our every act is under Hukam whether good or bad. A voilent act done by my enemy is under the Hukam, my pain and anger is under the Hukam, my resolve to fight my enemy is under the Hukam and the result of my fight is also under the Hukam. What my enemy did was by Hukam, what I did was by Hukam, what out as result was also under the Hukam.
The question then arises, should we go on doing anything we feel like and is there no need change?
According to my understanding, we first have to differentiate between the relative and the absolute. In the absolute sense everything is done under and by the Hukam of Akaal Purakh. But at the relative plane it is done by the individual beings driven by individual Egos. The karma and its fruits are created at the relative plane not the absolute plane.
So, where does this leave us? If everything is Hukam then don't we need to do anything? Yes we do. We need to *realize* that we are not the ultimate doers, because till we do that we can never escape from karma and its fruits and Dukkha of life. Thats what Guru Nanak is saying! He is asking us to realise that everything is Hukam! Realising the doing of Hukam shall cut off the nourishment lifeline of our Ego. And this will remove the foremost obstacle to the Divinity. Realisation that ultimate doer is Akaal Purakh will help us reach the state of Nehkaam, desireless state.
In Sukhmani Sahib it is clearly written
ਮਨੁ ਬੇਚੈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਪਾਸਿ ॥
मनु बेचै सतिगुर कै पासि ॥
Man becẖai saṯgur kai pās.
One who sells his mind to the True Guru -
ਤਿਸੁ ਸੇਵਕ ਕੇ ਕਾਰਜ ਰਾਸਿ ॥
तिसु सेवक के कारज रासि ॥
Ŧis sevak ke kāraj rās.
that humble servant's affairs are resolved.
ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਤ ਹੋਇ ਨਿਹਕਾਮੀ ॥
सेवा करत होइ निहकामी ॥
Sevā karaṯ ho▫e nihkāmī.
One who performs selfless service, without thought of reward,
ਤਿਸ ਕਉ ਹੋਤ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਸੁਆਮੀ ॥
तिस कउ होत परापति सुआमी ॥
Ŧis ka▫o hoṯ parāpaṯ su▫āmī.
shall attain his Lord and Master.
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Page 286)
This teaching applies to every act to be done by us, the worldly or the spiritual. Do the work, the Guru says, but do not wish for any reward, any result, any desire-fulfillment.
I think I have digressed a lot in this post. That again is my ego!
