The fundamental principle of "ego" was explained by Ramana Maharshi in his immortal classical Tamizh poem "Ulladu Narpadu" translated in English as "Forty Verses on Reality". Verse 25 in Ulladu Narpadu describes ego or the "I" thought and how to handle the same. The succinct

meaning of the verse is that the formless phantom-ego rises by grasping a form, grasping form it stands, grasping and feeding on form, it grows/flourishes, leaving one form it grasps another form. If examined it will take flight. Form means any phenomenon(seemingly physical but

is obviously mental). Each phenomenon is formed and characterised by certain features that distinguish it from the ego that is aware of it. Since the ego is formless, "grasping" is in the metaphorical sense of attending to and being aware of. Therefore "grasping form" means

attending to only the self. If the ego comes into existence everything comes into existence otherwise nothing exists. Having projected and grasped the form of a body, the ego then grasps other forms through the five senses of the body, which will then seem to be a physical

phenomena that exists outside. Sri Ramana said the mind stands only by grasping or attaching itself to a gross object, solitarily it does not stand. The mind implies the ego. He continues that if the ego is sought it will take flight! That is since the ego rises and stands only

by grasping forms and cannot stand by itself, it logically follows that if the ego tries to grasp or be aware of only the self, it will subside and disappear. Thus the ego or the "I" thought cannot stand as a separate entity. It subsides and merges back into our actual self

"atma-swarupa" which is the formless source from which it originally arose. Though one can and should try to observe this ego, it will never be seen clearly because like a ghost which seems to lurk in the shadows, it does not actually exist.

Self Awareness is the only thing that actually exists. Therefore "atmavichara" is the only direct means by which we can destroy or dissolve this "ego-illusion" and thus experience our self as we actually are. To free ourselves from this we need to starve the ego into submission

and try to attend to the "self" alone!
Not an easy task but certainly not an unachievable one!!
Some thoughts of mine while trying to read some good stuff! Our philosophy and way of life is so simple really..if only we follow at least some of it!!

Tagging @mayfair1958 @shivaniojha @aparnasridhar7
Not sure how many would really be interested in any gyaan!!!!!!