Drop Your Pseudo Identity

Swamiji, why is it that we know, but we still take on these things upon ourselves?

Yes…this is a nice question! When we have the choice to live happily, why do we choose suffering...?!

You see, you don't know your Self, your Being which is actually your real identity. Over time, you start relating with the outer world and create a pseudo identity for yourself. With this pseudo identity, you can relate with the outer world. This pseudo identity is your ego. It is purely made up of the labels that others paste on you. You don't know who you really are.

Suppose I ask you who you are, what will you say? You will say, "I am the father of so and so" or "I am the sister of so and so" or "I am a doctor" etc. But what are all these? These are all only your relationships and professions. You are daughter to your father, wife to your husband, mother to your children and so on. You are all these to the people around you. Then what are you to yourself?

You currently exist only in relationships and profession. Your ego is built up on this. Your identity is only through this. That is why there is always a danger of losing your identity. It is a man-made fragile thing and so it may break at any time. That is why you need to work so hard in maintaining it.

Chat With The Devotees Of Paramahamsa Nithyananda