DISCOURSES Volume II - Avatar Meher Baba Trust

The Nature of the Egoand its TerminationPART IIITHE FORMS OF THE EGO ANDTHEIR DISSOLUTIONTHE ego subsists upon mundane possessions like power, fame,wealth, ability, attainments and accomplishments. It creates andrecognises the "thine" in order to feel what is distinctively "mine."Ego lives throughidea of “mine”However, in spite of all the worldly thingswhich it claims as "mine," it constantly feelsempty and incomplete. To make up for thisdeep restlessness in its own being, it seeks to fortify itself throughfurther acquisitions. It brings the array of its entire variedpossessions into relief by comparison with others who might beinferior in any one of the items stamped as "mine" and often usesthese possessions for wanton and uncalled for self-display even tothe disadvantage of others. The ego is dissatisfied in spite of itsmundane possessions, but instead of cultivating detachment fromthem it seeks to derive satisfaction from a more intense sense ofpossession in contradistinction to others. The ego as an affirmationof separateness lives through the idea of "mine."The ego wants to feel separate and unique and it