Ulladu-Narpadu Verse 25: Magic
Channel: Consciousness Research Centre
Date: 05/05/2017

This series is classified Ajata-vāda | Jñāna-yoga | Turīya | Sahasrāra-cakra

"What a wonder! This ghostly ego, which is devoid of form (that is, which has no form of its own), comes into existence by grasping a form (that is, by identifying the form of a body as ‘I’); it endures by grasping a form (that is, by continuing to cling to that body as ‘I’); it waxes more by grasping and feeding upon forms (that is, by attending to second and third person objects, which it cognizes through the five senses); having left a form, it grasps a form (that is, having given up one body, it grasps another body as ‘I’); but if one searches (for it by enquiring ‘Who am I, this formless ego?’), it will take to flight (being found to be nonexistent)! Know thus."

The ego can seemingly come into existence and endure only by grasping forms, that is, by attending to second- and third-person objects. The more it attends to such objects, the more it waxes and grows strong. But since the ego has no form of its own, if it tries to attend to itself, the first person or subject, it will lose its strength, subside and disappear, because without any form to attend to, it cannot stand.

In order to illustrate the properties of the ego described in this and the previous verse, Sri Bhagavan used to tell the story of a way farer who played a prominent part in a marriage celebration. Though he belonged neither to the bride’s party nor to the bridegroom’s party, he pretended to each party that he was an important member of the other. So long as everyone believed him, he thrived happily, bossing over both parties and feasting sumptuously. But as soon as people began to doubt his identity and to enquire who he was, he took to flight and disappeared. Similar is the case with the ego. Though it is neither the body nor the real Self, it pretends to be both. So long as no enquiry is made about its reality, it seems to exist. But as soon as it is scrutinized to find out who it is, it will disappear, being found to be non-existent.

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