Ego, or अहंकार, is one of the quietest yet strongest forces shaping our inner world. It is not who we truly are, but who we think we are. It is a mental image, a story we repeat to ourselves — made of our name, our achievements, our failures, our opinions, and the roles we play in society. Ego lives in the idea of “I,” “me,” and “mine.” It says, “This is my body, my success, my pain, my identity.” And because we cling to this idea, we often forget the deeper, silent self that exists beneath it. Buddha called ego an illusion — a misunderstanding of reality. He said the sense of a permanent “I” is like a mirage in the desert. From far away, it looks real, but the moment you walk close, it disappears. According to Buddha, suffering begins when we try to protect this false identity. When someone praises us, the ego grows. When someone criticizes us, the ego feels wounded. When we lose something, the ego feels threatened. And in this constant rise and fall, we lose our peace. Buddha taught that when we see ego clearly, without fighting it, its power naturally fades. Awareness becomes the doorway to liberation. Osho explained ego in a different but equally profound way. He said ego is a mask — a mask given to us by society, family, school, and culture. As children, we begin to collect labels: good, bad, smart, slow, strong, weak. Slowly, the mask becomes heavier, and we forget our real face. Osho compared ego to a shadow: always following us, always present, but never real. It disappears the moment we turn toward the light of awareness. According to him, ego survives only in unconsciousness — in mechanically reacting, comparing, competing, and pretending. When we become aware of our inner world, the shadow begins to fade. To understand ego in everyday life, think of a simple moment. Someone criticizes your work. Instantly, you feel anger or defensiveness rise. This is ego reacting. It says, “How dare they say this about me?” But if someone praises you, you feel pleased, even superior. This too is ego. It survives on comparison — wanting to be better than someone, wanting to prove something, wanting to be seen, valued, and admired. Ego is fragile because it depends on others’ opinions. It cannot stand on its own. The moment the world stops giving attention, ego feels empty. Buddha often used the example of a chariot to explain ego. If you take a chariot apart — remove its wheels, its frame, its seat — where is the chariot? It is only a name given to a set of pieces. The same is true for the “self.” When we observe our body, our thoughts, our emotions, our habits, and our memories, we find no unchanging “I” inside. Ego is simply a label our mind creates. Realizing this brings a deep sense of freedom. Osho reminds us that ego cannot exist in the present moment. It lives either in the past — in memories of what we have done — or in the future, in dreams of what we want to become. When we are fully present, ego disappears. In the silence of the present moment, there is no story to protect, no identity to maintain. There is only pure awareness — calm, clear, and alive. The purpose is not to destroy ego but to understand it gently. Even the thought “I must get rid of ego” becomes ego. Instead, simply observe: notice when you feel hurt, when you react, when you want to prove yourself. This observation creates a space inside you, and in that space, ego loses control. Slowly, you stop reacting and start responding. You speak more gently, listen more deeply, and live more consciously. Compassion grows because you no longer feel separate; you see yourself in others. In essence, ego is a tool — useful for functioning in the world, harmful when it becomes your identity. When you look beyond ego, you find a deeper self: silent, peaceful, and unafraid. This is your true nature. Buddha called it right understanding. Osho called it witnessing. Both point to the same truth — that freedom begins the moment you see the ego, not as you, but as a passing cloud in the vast sky of your consciousness.