AHAMBUDHI
Those in Ahambudhi are inflicted with the most
serious chronic
disease of Maya (sggs 502).
Good deeds done in Ahambudhi are swept away,
like the house of sand by water (sggs 211).
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The term "Ahambudhi" basically refers to the ego-intellect. Since intellect is the faculty of the mind, it in essence stands for the ego-mind or personal ego (Haume). Faults of the ego are lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride with their numerous variations such as enviousness, stubborn mindedness, selfishness, untruthfulness, unrighteousness, corruption, slander, arrogance and so on. These are the forces of the instinctive mind, whose driving force comes from one's cravings of sex, money, power, fame, food, clothes etc. It thus binds one to the "corrupt pleasures" of sense-objects through Maya (illusion, duality etc.), because the senses and the intellect of such person are outward bound. Ahambudhi is intolerant and destructive. So it barks: "my viewpoint alone is correct and all others are wrong." In reality, however, the majority of us use our Ahambudhi for everything. In the Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS), actions (Karma) performed in Ahambudhi are likened to the " most serious chronic disease" and the "house of sand". So what's the use of holding on to such faulty reasoning and intellect? Unless we eradicate it, it's the greatest barrier to one's peace and spiritual enlightenment. As a result, the Gurbani urges us to "forsake" any dealing with one's false ego-sense.
Ahambudhi makes us forget the Truth; for it's the veil of darkness (ignorance) — the sense of body-consciousness, duality, separateness, "I, me, mine"; self-centeredness and narrow-mindedness; planning for one's own happiness; brooding over sorrow and possessiveness; etc. It sticks to the mind just as the grease, Ghee or oil sticks to the pot (Bhaandaa) they are stored in. As per the Gurbani, our minds are "overflowing" with this Ahambudhi. Most people today are blinded by Ahambudhi. If not careful, more we read and study, and more we indulge in empty rituals (Karamkaand) and cleansing techniques or pilgrimage, more this filth sticks to the mind. No wonder the so called "intellectuals" are full of Ahambudhi! They are usually good at stirring up conflicts, arguments and controversies! Egoistic intellectual mind is constantly preoccupied with deluded thoughts. A greatest enemy of intuition, such mind is inhibitor to Bhagti (devotion), and has strong stranglehold on the Jeeva (individual). The one deluded by Ahambudhi is called " Manmukh" in the Gurbani.
Hence, through intoxication with Ahambudhi, Maya torments us. By attaching one to the Sansaar (this material world, the place of repeated suffering) through Maya, Ahambudhi consumes one's lifetime, losing his heart and faith. Purified Ahambudhi gives clarity of Vision. Therefore, Ahambudhi needs to be purified or annihilated of its defilements and negativities (Bikaars). It means we need to lighten up. Purified intellect is the tool for the intuition. As spiritual Bliss (Anand) cannot be experienced by Ahambudhi, it needs to be replaced with Viveka-Budhi (discriminating intellect) rooted in the spiritual principles.When the intellect is correctly used it's the Wisdom.
How? The Gurbani says that the Salvation " comes only through the Naam, the Name of the Lord". Furthermore, the Gurbani recommends cultivating humility and seeking and keeping the Holy Company (Saadh-Sangat or Satsang) to "tear down the mound of frightful Ahambudhi". In nutshell, eradication of Ahambudhi is the question of becoming a Gurmukh (spiritual or egoless being).
— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org
Updated on Friday, August 1, 2008 12:30 PM (PST)
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