Dṛg-dṛśya Vivekaḥ 8: Ego & Identification
Channel: Consciousness Research Centre
Date: 28/05/2020

This series is classified Vivartha-vāda | Rāja-yoga | Suśupti | Ājñā-cakra
Identification of the ahaṅkāra (ego) with the Witness is based only upon ignorance. The experience resulting from this identification is, “I am or exist.” This identification can be removed only by knowing the real nature of consciousness: ahaṁ brahmasmī.
Text 8: 
ahaṅkārasya tādātmyaṁ cicchāyādehasākṣibhiḥ |
sahajaṁ karmajaṁ bhrānti-janyaṁ ca trividhaṁ kramāt ||

“The identification of the ego with the reflection of consciousness, the body and the Witness are of three kinds, respectively: natural, due to past karma, and due to ignorance.” 
Now the nature of the identification of ahaṅkāra with different entities is described. 

Natural describes the identification of the ego with the reflection of consciousness. The moment the reflection of consciousness and the ego (ahaṅkāra) come into existence, they become identified with each other. The ego manifests itself under the influence of this reflection. Therefore this identification is called natural or innate. The experience resulting from this identification is, “I know”.

Due to karma: The ego identifies itself with a particular body according to its past acts, virtuous or otherwise. Birth in a particular body is always determined by karma. The experience resulting from this identification is, “I am a human (or other species, according to the body).”

Ignorance of the real nature of consciousness is called here bhrānti (delusion), which is without beginning and cannot be described as real or unreal. This identification of the ahaṅkāra (ego) with the Witness is based only upon ignorance. The experience resulting from this identification is, “I am or exist.” This identification can be removed only by knowing the real nature of consciousness: ahaṁ brahmasmī.

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