What happens when I want to drop the pain of having an ego but keep the pleasure associated with it?
Synthesized from Source
outcome
"You cannot drop the pain of the ego while clinging to its pleasures; true liberation comes from understanding that every motive only strengthens the illusion of self."
According to Osho, trying to drop the ego’s pain while keeping its pleasures only sustains the ego: any motivation—negative (avoiding misery) or positive (seeking reward)—feeds it. Ego survives on comparison with others and lies dormant in isolation. It dissolves only through clear understanding that all motive strengthens it, not by renunciation or promised future gains.
If you keep the ego’s nice parts and reject the bad, the ego stays; it fades only when you stop chasing rewards or escaping hurts.
Why this matters practically
- Catch motives: notice when you seek praise or avoid criticism; both fuel ego.
- Learn in relationships: watch your reactions with people to see ego clearly.
- Choose understanding over reward: drop hidden goals and simply observe.
- Learn in relationships: watch your reactions with people to see ego clearly.
- Choose understanding over reward: drop hidden goals and simply observe.
AI Confidence Score: 95%
Read Original Discourse →