There are two words
in Sanskrit “Ahamkara” (Ego) and “Asmitha” (“I”ness). We often confuse these
two words as in the English translation we tend to interchange them to convey
our thought. As I understand “Ahamkara” is one among the four Anthahkarna
(Inner Conscience) along with Manas (Mind), Buddhi (Intellect) and Chitta
(Memory).
Ahamkara refers to a sense of self that is somewhat self-existent and
though it is shaped up by the information received from the external resource
it does not depend on it to obtain a place in my conscience.
Asmitha is one of the
four afflictions of mind along with Avidhya (Ignorance), Raga (Attraction),
Dwesha (Aversion) and Abhinivesha (clinging to live). It is just a sense of
“I”ness without Ego coming into play. It is just the identification of the
perceiver with the reflection of the perception. From this identification there
is a feel of “I” see, “I” hear etc. This “I”ness is felt as soon as one is
awake in the morning. So Asmitha rely on its association to outward appearance
for its place in my conscience.
In simple words,
Ahamkara is sense of self that is related to internal experiences while Asmitha
is more self worth when it is related to external experience, hence we compare
ourselves and feel that we are better or worse than others.
Once there was a
sculptor who got his training done under Devashilpi Vishwakarma, the divine
architect. His sculptures look very much real. He was so perfect that it was
impossible for anyone to differentiate between the statue and a real human. Vishwakarma
was very pleased with his Shishya for the dedication and the efforts of
learning the art to perfection. He wished to reward him appropriately he said, “I
am overwhelmed by the interest you have on learning the art, I wish to grant
you a boon for your sincerity in learning.”
The sculptor said,
“Oh! Deva, let me know in advance the date and time of my death.”
Vishwakarma was
surprised by the request but yet granted it.
Years passed on and
finally the time came for the sculptor to face death. A few month before the
appropriate time of death the sculptor designed nine statues which looked
exactly like him. No one could make out the difference between him and the nine
statues he had made. On the day of his death he placed all the nine statues in
a row and stood as the tenth so that he could dodge God of Death.
When God of Death
arrived, he was amazed to see ten sculptors. He was in a dilemma as to who was
real. He immediately rushed to the Creator and informed him of the situation.
The Creator smiled and whispered something in his ears. God of Death grinned
and left. Then the God of Death stood in front of those statues and said “Oh! Marvelous,
so well and perfectly designed even the Creator cannot make something like
this. No one has ever created like this before nor can be done in future. But I
feel there is a slight defect in one of the statues.”
Hearing the word “defect”
the sculptor jumped out and asked “Where is the mistake?” God of Death
immediately threw the Pasha (Noose) on the sculptor and said “This is the
mistake. If you had remained silent and stood as one among the statues maybe
you could have won over death. But those thoughts like, “I” am perfect; “I” cannot
make mistake, which has engulfed you has exposed you to me. Now everything is
over, Dear”.
The sculptor had to
follow the God of Death without arguing further......!
No comments:
Post a Comment