India, April 12 -- The first person we need to assess for ego isn't someone else - it's ourselves. But before identifying signs of an overinflated ego, let's understand what ego truly means. In the Bhagavad Gita, verse 7.4, Krishna describes eight components of His nature: "Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence, and ego."
The Sanskrit word used for ego is ahankara, meaning "I am the doer." This sense of being the doer is natural when performing our duties. However, it becomes problematic when one starts to believe that they alone are responsible for success.
In reality, the Gita (18.14) states that there are five factors behind every action: the place of action, the doer, the instruments used, the various efforts, and divine ...