DISCOURSES Volume II - Avatar Meher Baba Trust

THE NATURE OF THE EGO AND ITS TERMINATION: I 65occasion an attempt should be made to analyse the mental statethrough deep introspection, for such analysis brings to light thehidden conflicts concerning the matter.When the conflicts are thus brought to light it is possible toresolve them through intelligent and firm choice. The mostimportant requirement for the satisfactory resolution of conflictThe ideal as motivepoweris motive power or inspiration, which canonly come from a burning longing for somecomprehensive ideal. Analysis in itself mayaid choice, but choice will remain a barren and ineffectiveintellectual preference unless it is vitalised by zeal for some idealappealing to the deepest and most significant strata of humanpersonality. Modern psychology has done much to reveal thesources of conflict, but it has yet to discover methods of awakeninginspiration or supplying the mind with something which makes lifeworth living. This indeed is the creative task facing the saviours ofhumanity.The establishment of the true ideal is a beginning of rightvaluation. Right valuation in turn is the undoing of theconstructions of the ego, which thrives on false valuation. AnyDisintegration of egocentrethrough rightvaluationaction which expresses the true values oflife contributes towards the disintegrationof the ego, which is a product of agesof ignorant action. Life cannot bepermanently imprisoned within the cage of the ego. It must at sometime strive towards the Truth. In the ripeness of evolution comesthe momentous discovery that life cannot be understood and livedfully as long as it is made to move round the pivot of the ego. Manis then driven by the logic of his own experience to find the truecentre of experience and reorganise his life in the Truth. Thisentails the wearing out