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You are here: Experts > Cultures > Indian Culture > Hindus > consciousness and ego
Hindus - consciousness and ego
Expert: Raja Subramaniyan - 11/5/2009
Question
Everyone has soul or the consciousness, how is it possible a person who has the purest thing, the consciousness develop like and dislike and ego or the ignorance.
Answer
Dear Rajesh,
It is not right to say 'everyone has soul'. The correct statement could be 'soul has everyone'. There is ONE without a second which is formless, nameless, attributeless, beyond time and space. This ONE is referred as Brahman in the scriptures. Soul or Atman is also identical with the word Brahman.
We do ask the question "Is there space in the room?" but the truth is room is in the space! Space is same whether it is outside the room or inside the room. Just as the phrase 'room-space' refer to the space within the room the word SOUL or ATMAN refer to the very same Brahman in the context of an individual.
Therefore, it is not appropriate to say 'a person who has the purest soul'. There is only one soul which is common to all. What differs person to person is the quality of the mind.
Mind is influenced by our sense organs. Those who do not have strong intelligence to control the mind will be weak minded. This means they will be under the control of sense objects of the world. They have strong likes and dislikes. The world will have power to hurt such people.
Consciousness NEVER develop any likes or dislikes. It is only the mind that develops likes and dislikes. (As you know consciousness is yet another word for Soul/Atman/ Brahman)
There is nothing wrong in developing likes and dislikes as long as it is under the control of intelligence. The desires of wise people are called non-binding desires. It is like the roasted seed that does not germinate. Desires of wise people do not have strength to grow into suffering.
It is natural for all human beings to be ignorant. Through systematic study the ignorance can be removed.
Ego is part of the mind and it will also be naturally present in everyone.
I am not sure I answered your question since the question is incorrect in most places. After reading this answer you may want to ask me a specific clarification.
Thanks for asking this question which might remove the confusion that surround the words like soul, consciousness etc.
Best wishes,
Raja Subramaniyan
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