In Osho's philosophy, it is important not to leave the ego as an object, but to understand and see it. His emphasis was that when a person begins to observe his thoughts, desires, achievements, and the identity he has created without judgment, the ego's grip gradually begins to weaken.
1. Don't fight ego
If we understand Osho's thoughts in simple words then fighting ego can also become a form of ego. If this thought starts coming in your mind that “I have to completely eliminate my ego.”then here also a new 'I' can be born.
So the first step is not to suppress the ego, but to see it.
When someone criticizes you and you feel immediately angry, instead of reacting in that moment, look within yourself—What hurt me? Which image of mine is being broken?
2. Look at your 'I'
We say many times throughout the day – I am right, my point is right, I should be respected, how can someone consider me inferior.
In Osho's meditation tradition, great importance has been given to witnessing. Try observing thoughts instead of blocking them.
For example, when the mind says-
“He insulted me.”
So instead of reacting immediately, see how anger is arising in the mind. What changes are happening in the body? Which thought is revolving again and again?
Just watch. This witnessing can be an important step towards understanding the ego.
3. Stop taking everything personally
The ego gets the most energy when we associate every event with ourselves.
Someone praised you – you became happy.
Someone criticized – you got upset.
This means that your internal state is being controlled by the behavior of other people.
Inspired by Osho's meditative ideas, a practice can be to see both praise and criticism as mere events. Don't grab praise, don't identify yourself with criticism.
4. Learn to sit in silence
Sit quietly for some time every day. Close your eyes and feel the breath. Don't try to stop thoughts.
If anger comes to your mind, see.
If fear comes, see.
If you remember an old incident of insult, see.
If you worry about the future, see.
Gradually you will begin to understand that you are not a thought; You may even be the one observing those thoughts.
5. Look at life instead of 'I'
The ego says—“I did it.”
But if we look a little deeper, family, society, circumstances, education, opportunities and countless other people also contribute to your achievements.
This understanding does not eliminate achievement, but may reduce the sense of superiority associated with it.
the most important thing
Understand Osho's viewpoint in one sentence:
Don't try to destroy the ego; Look at it with full awareness.
Whatever you see completely, its unknown hold begins to weaken. Therefore, instead of fighting the ego, making awareness, witnessing and meditation a part of life is a more useful approach.
A small daily practice:
Whenever something makes you feel extremely angry, hurt, or insulted, before responding immediately, pause for 30 seconds and ask yourself—“What is hurting me—my body, my emotions, or the image of ‘I’ I have created?”