Skip to content
  • Home
  • Videos
    • First Steps
    • Stories
    • Yoga Perspectives
    • Essential Life Skills
    • Spiritual Development
    • Devotional Yoga
    • Yoga in Daily Life
  • Talks
    • Higher Yogas Classes
    • Yoga Basics
    • Bhakti Yoga
    • Sri Ramakrishna
    • Go Farther with Meditation
    • Theme of the Month
    • Devotional Chants
  • Writings
    • Yoga as a Spiritual Path
    • Discover the Miracle of Prayer
    • Keys to Higher Consciousness
    • Growing on the Path
    • Relating with Spirit
    • Spiritual Living
    • Interviews
  • Courses
    • Introducing Courses
    • Online Seminars
    • Online Retreats
    • Initial Mysteries
  • Explore
    • Lifelines
    • Topics
    • Yoga Terms
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Favorites
    • Recent Additions
  • About
    • Ramakrishna Ananda
    • Why Are We Doing This Now?
    • Our Ideals
    • Our Team
    • Get Updates
    • Contact Us
    • Terms and Privacy
Menu
  • Home
  • Videos
    • First Steps
    • Stories
    • Yoga Perspectives
    • Essential Life Skills
    • Spiritual Development
    • Devotional Yoga
    • Yoga in Daily Life
  • Talks
    • Higher Yogas Classes
    • Yoga Basics
    • Bhakti Yoga
    • Sri Ramakrishna
    • Go Farther with Meditation
    • Theme of the Month
    • Devotional Chants
  • Writings
    • Yoga as a Spiritual Path
    • Discover the Miracle of Prayer
    • Keys to Higher Consciousness
    • Growing on the Path
    • Relating with Spirit
    • Spiritual Living
    • Interviews
  • Courses
    • Introducing Courses
    • Online Seminars
    • Online Retreats
    • Initial Mysteries
  • Explore
    • Lifelines
    • Topics
    • Yoga Terms
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Favorites
    • Recent Additions
  • About
    • Ramakrishna Ananda
    • Why Are We Doing This Now?
    • Our Ideals
    • Our Team
    • Get Updates
    • Contact Us
    • Terms and Privacy
  • Share
RAMAKRISHNA ANANDA

Ego Affliction and Transcendence

How to let go of the root of all suffering — selfishness

The purpose of spiritual practice is to free oneself from the normal ego and its selfishness, according to Vedanta’s Swami Prabhavananda. Since this selfishness is the root of all suffering, we need to shift from ego dominance to spiritual dominance. Explore the two main yoga practices that assist in helping make this shift.

Yoga in Daily Life, Ego, Afflictions / Kleshas, Transformation
  • Out of spiritual ignorance we have formed a false sense of self (ego)
  • Vedanta and some other yoga schools teach that the primary problem is the ego
  • Swami Prabhavananda states that the purpose of spiritual practice is to free oneself from ego and selfishness
  • When we relate to the world from ego, Spirit remains hidden and unknown to us
  • Discover two main ways yogis deal with the ego
  • Transcend the ego and discover the spirit within, the soul, the true self

The Purpose of Spiritual Discipline

The purpose behind all spiritual discipline is to free oneself from the normal ego, the body-and-world identified ego. One does postures, pranayams and spiritual practices all to get free of ego. Swami Prabhavananda taught that, “The very principle of spiritual life is to become completely unselfish. A yogi thinks ‘What does God want?’ not ‘What do I want?’”

Watch Next

6:04
Enjoy being renewed through yoga anytime, anywhere
16:06
How you can experience ecstatic, ongoing joy now
7"50
Explore the fastest way to God’s love and guidance
What do mystics say is the major problem in life?
1. Not enough time to meditate
1. Not enough time to meditate
Try Again
2. Stress
2. Stress
Try Again
3. Ignorance of our mystic selves
3. Ignorance of our mystic selves
Correct
Read more about how you can contact your mystic self.
4. Not enough vitality
4. Not enough vitality
Try Again

New This Week

How to overcome frustration and find greater fulfillment
Would you like to be free from worry?
Chanting the Gayatri Mantram can lead to spiritual awakening
Home > Videos > Yoga in Daily Life > Ego Affliction and Transcendence
Next
  • Home
  • Videos
  • Talks
  • Writings
  • Courses
  • Explore
  • About
  • Search
  • Home
  • Videos
  • Talks
  • Writings
  • Courses
  • Explore
  • About
  • Search
© Copyright 2023 Yoga World Fellowship
  • Terms and Privacy
  • Sitemap

How to Succeed

As you may know, we do not charge for our courses. All Yoga World content is free and available to you with our blessings. However, we do have a simple, but important request that’s key to the transformations necessary to succeed on the path.

We ask you to commit two hours a week to selfless service. This service can be anything you choose ranging from helping a family member or neighbor to volunteering at a nonprofit organization.

I Commit to Serve

This commitment is solely between you and your inner self.

Why the Commitment?

Share with a Friend

NOTE:  We will not share your information with third parties.