It’s a big-time ego problem. We all have it. Big time.
This is the sthool sharir (gross physical body) we have, made of panch tattva (five elements): earth, water, fire, air, and ether. Beyond this is our subtle body, made up of 18 components: the five pranas (vital life forces), the ten indriyas (senses), the mind, the intellect, and the ahankar (ego, sense of “I”).
The greatest of the Gyanis (realized knower), I just told you the example of Jadbharat (King Bharat), who is jivan mukta (liberated while living), mahatma (great soul), not only paramahams (supreme Gyani renunciate) but avadhut (one beyond social norms). He falls, and he comes back in the form of a deer.
Just imagine. “So who are we?”
So even if someone proclaims this, what will be the condition of that person? The person’s condition will be exactly like Jadbharat or like Maharishi Saubhari.
There are many examples. I’m not going to go into all these examples; (I) just (want) to let you all know that a Guru (spiritual teacher) is a must in life. Optional? No. Compulsory? No. It’s perfectly compulsory. Absolutely compulsory.
That is why it is said in the Ramayan very beautifully:
नेम धर्म आचार तप ज्ञज्ञान जज्ञ जप दान।
भेषज पुनि कोटिन्ह नहिं रोग जाहिं हरिजान।।Nem dharm āchār tap gyān jagya jap dān.
Bheshaj puni koṭinh naḥīṁ rog jāhiṁ Harijān.- Ramayan: Uttarkand
Maya rog (disease of illusion), this sickness of maya (material illusion), will not go away no matter how much yam (moral restraints), niyam (observances), asan (yogic postures), or how much of these yog sadhanas (yog practices), or niyam, dharm (righteous conduct), acharya (disciplined conduct), tap (austerity), puja (worship), etc., one does. How will this maya disease that we are all afflicted with go? How can we get beyond this maya?
राम कृपाँ नासहिं सब रोगा। जौं एहि भाँति बनै संजोगा॥
सदगुर बैद बचन बिस्वासा। संजम यह न बिषय कै आसा॥Rām kripāṁ nāsahiṁ sab rogā. Jauṁ ehi bhāṁti banai saṇjogā.
Sadgur baid bachan bisvāsā. Sanjam yah na bishay kai āsā- Ramayan
Without the grace of the supreme Almighty Lord, it is impossible for one to get beyond the material afflictions, maya diseases, and sicknesses. We’ll all be kami (desire-driven), krodhi (angry), lobhi (greedy), mohi (attached, deluded). We’ll all be attached. Ignorantly, we’ll remain attached to the world, in maya.
