If we are good and we feel good about it that is self-esteem. If there is falsehood and we try to cover it by a pretence of goodness, that is ego. That is body consciousness. Ego is body consciousness based; Self Esteem is from the inner self. Both are different. I have a lot of self esteem because I know I am a good person. Just because someone scolds me I get affected, then that is ego.

Live as if you are dead. If you have been cremated or buried and someone scolds you, will you get up from your coffin and challenge his statement? That is why I say, Live dead.

I do not bother if somebody scolds me. I do not become happy if someone garlands me. Of late, I have stopped accepting garlands too. Morning someone offered me a garland, I prayed to God and told him ‘Put it for God’. In Perth Murugan Temple, they gave me a big garland; I accepted it and said, ‘Go; put it around Muruga’.

Ego comes when we expect some recognition. Who are the other people to recognize our worth? Why should we bother? What is their qualification to recognize us?

Four people are carrying a corpse to its resting place. Enroute, some people may talk good of that person, some may talk ill. Do you think the corpse will get up and say, ‘Why did you scold me?’ Not possible, right. Be like that!

 

( Baba's replies to other questions continues next week....)