ਹਉਮੈ - EGO : VIRUS OF THE MIND

ਮਨ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਰੋਗੁ ਹੈ ਭ੍ਰਮਿ ਭੂਲੇ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਦੁਰਜਨਾ ॥: Man antar haumai rog hai bhram bhoole manmukh durjaanaa:
Those within whose mind is the disease of ego (Haumai - ਹਉਮੈ), those self-willed (Manmukhs),
the evil beings (ਬਿਕਾਰੀ ਬੰਦੇ - corrupt people), are deluded by doubt (sggs 301).
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The word "ਹਉਮੈ" (Haumai) consists of two words: ਹਉ + ਮੈ. "ਹਉ" essentially means "I, ਮੈ" etc., and " ਮੈ" means the same, that is, "I, ਮੈ" etc. So, when both terms are combined (i.e., ਹਉਮੈ), it simply indicates the sense of "ਮੈ ਮੈ", "I, I" or "I-ness", "mine, mine", "mineness", "I, me, mine", ਆਪਾ-ਭਾਵ, etc.

Some of the words are so profound that it's not so easy to translate them into other languages. Haumai ("ਹਉਮੈ") is one of those words. The closest English words may be considered ego, egotism, false ego-sense, and so on.

In nutshell, Haumai ("ਹਉਮੈ") arises from the notion of false selfhood ( "ਹਉ", I-ness , ਮੈ ਮੈ, etc.), which is essentially considering oneself separate from the rest. This is why the Gurbani so much talks about "One", "Oneness", etc. For, as the Gurbani time again emphasizes, existence is one. That is, there is no "other"; there is no separateness; and there are no boundaries. "ਮੈ ਮੈ" or "I, I" is nothing but the idea of being separate from the universe. Although, we all live in "One" Ocean of Consciousness, but deluded by and identification with the limitations and boundaries of the body-mind-intellect personality, we think in "ਹਉਮੈ" (Haumai) - mistaken or false identity.

Hence, Haumai ("ਹਉਮੈ") is the disease (ਰੋਗੁ) of the mind. Not just an ordinary disease, but, according to the SGGS, "ਵਡਾ ਰੋਗੁ" (a terrible disease, big disease, great disease, etc.), "ਰੋਗੁ ਮਹਾ ਦੁਖ" (a terrible disease and suffering, a greatest disease and suffering, etc.). "ਰੋਗੁ ਕਠਿਨ" (a terrible disease), "ਰੋਗ ਬੁਰੇ " (deadly disease, bad disease, etc.), "ਦੀਰਘ ਰੋਗੁ" (chronic disease), and so on.

In nutshell, Haumai ("ਹਉਮੈ") is the virus of the mind. As indicated in the SGGS, it has infected minds of the majority of the people in the world. In other words, bodies of the majority of us (the over 99.9 percent category) is afflicted with this terribly painful illness of egotism.

We routinely hear about new and more deadly viruses of the body ( e.g., swine flew, bird flew, AID, etc.). Also, in this age of information, we hear about computer viruses, that enter our computers and corrupt everything inside of them. A virus primarily acts in three main ways:

Haumai ("ਹਉਮੈ") - virus of the mind - is no different. That is, it also fits this pattern. For example, this is how it duplicates itself. As an infant, we all are born with Unconditioned Consciousness (Pure, Intact, Total, Undivided, Saabat, Joti-Svaroopa). However, as we grow, our parents and society condition us. That is, as we grow, our consciousness becomes corrupt for our Haumai becomes stronger. Our parents and society infect us with this virus. This process is duplicated when we infect our own children, and others in the society.

Once this virus of Haumai ("ਹਉਮੈ") has entered the mind, it spreads like a wild fire in one's entire being - thoughts, speech, actions, and so on. It mutates into ਬਿਕਾਰ (inner "filth", corruption): lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride (and countless variations of these such as jealousy, stubborn mindedness, selfishness, and so on).

The mind free of the virus of Haumai ("ਹਉਮੈ") is Joti-Svaroopa - Pure Consciousness, Pure Awareness, Unconditioned Consciousness, Undivided Consciousness, the Divine state of Gurmukhtaa, and so on. Simply put, it the Higher State (call it Truth, God, Self-Realization, or whatever you may).

To the contrary, when Joti-Svaroopa is covered or curtained with the false self or Haumai ("ਹਉਮੈ"), it is the lower mind. Simply put, it is the sate of Manmukhtaa, conditioned consciousness, divided consciousness, Asat (untruth), Bikaars (corruption, passions, negativity, etc.), falsehood, delusion, cynicism, and so on. It is confinding (false identity, ਆਪਾ-ਭਾਵ) the physical body with the Original Spirit.

As indicated in the SGGS, both Haumai ("ਹਉਮੈ") and Joti-Svaroopa cannot coexist. In other words, false ego-sense and Pure Awareness, or false self and Authentic Self (Originality, Mool, etc.), or filth and Purity (i.e., untruth and Truth, etc.) cannot coexist. They are just not compatible.

Ego-mind is the habitual mind. We are the way we think with this habitual mind. Ego-mind is misalignment to Joti-Svaroopa - the Place we Originated from. To align back to Joti-Svaroopa is to think like God (Original Spirit) or become God-like. All excuses not to align with Joti-Svaroopa (Original Spirit) are misalignments that arise from Haumai ("ਹਉਮੈ").

The SGGS tells us that, although the Haumai ("ਹਉਮੈ") is a terrible disease, but it also contains its own cure. As indicated in the Gurbani, the key is proper Understanding.

What this essentially indicates to us is that Haumai ("ਹਉਮੈ") can be outgrown. In other words, ego is not in charge of us, something else is. That "something else" is calling in us. Joti-Svaroopa (Original Spirit, etc.) is Perfect and Faultless. That is our True Nature, not the false ego-sense, which is faulty. Thinning of ego takes place when we move from false self to our Authentic Self (Joti-Svaroopa).

In other words, when the Divine Consciousness is allowed to grow within, Haumai ("ਹਉਮੈ") diminishes. It's removing the lower mind (corrupt consciousness) with the Higher Mind (Original Consciousness). It requires continuous enthusiasm, willingness, Surrendering, and earnestness. It demands undivided thinking from the Higher Place (Joti-Svaroopa). It is to become alert, to become conscious, to live life consciously, full of Awareness, Thoughtfulness, Mindfulness, and so on. When the mind Awakenes to its True Nature (Original Consciousness - Joti Svaroopa), all its faults die (i.e., then the lower stands removed).

Freedom (or Mukti) is nothing but liberation from Haumai ("ਹਉਮੈ"). When one experiences Freedom while alive in the body, he is called Jeevanmukta (Living Liberated or Living Enlightened). The idea is to think and act from the end (Joti-Svaroopa), rather than just thinking or merely talking about the end!

The Gurbani gives us an impetus, a thirst, and a tremendous enthusiasm. It shows us the simple way, it helps us Understand, and it Guides (ਸੇਧ) us so that we may awaken to our Higher Consciousness within. More we understand the deeper we go and more the idea of "ਮੈ ਮੈ" or "I, I" (the notion of separateness) disappear.

As the Haumai ("ਹਉਮੈ") thins out, Awareness grows within (Joti-Svaroopa), then one begins to think like God, act like God, contemplate like God... That is, in nutshell, one becomes God-like (ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦਾ ਰੂਪ ਹੀ ਹੋ ਜਾਣਾਂ).

Thus, clearly, the Teaching of the SGGS (Gurmat) is not materialistic, dogmatic, and so on. The SGGS is very Simple, and simply gives us the Wisdom so that we can deveop real Understanding. For, the way of the SGGS appears to be the way of true Understanding. But, as the SGGS says...

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org

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Updated on Friday, January 22, 2010 12:33 PM (PST)

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