Sadhguru narrated a spiritual story on Ego in his Goa Session. This story is about one of his Kriyak. Sadhguru empowered him for certain activities. Sadhguru said the journey to enlightenment is not a peak to reach but a continuous path to tread, softened by humility and tempered by compassion.
Story | South Goa | February 14, 2024
Sadhguru: Vanu was a figure of renown, a spiritual teacher whose wisdom shone brightly. For years, he had guided seekers with confidence and insight, gradually amassing a dedicated following. As his fame grew, so did his self-assuredness, but he dismissed any suggestion that he might fall prey to pride. “How could ego touch me?” he would think. “I am beyond that.”
One evening, a young disciple approached him with an invitation written on an old, worn piece of parchment. The letter was an invitation to a distant hermitage hidden in the mountains, rumoured to hold ancient knowledge on self-realization and enlightenment. The letter contained only one line: “The one who sees all shall find what is unseen.”
Curious and feeling ready for any wisdom that awaited him, Vanu set out the next morning. He saw it as a test of his spiritual prowess—a journey that would cement his enlightenment.
Only when the fire of pride scorches our hearts do we begin to understand the cool balm of humility?
II. The Journey: Confronting Signs of Ego
Vanu’s journey was long and winding, bringing him through villages and across mountain paths. Along the way, he met a poor farmer tending to his crops. The farmer approached, humbly asking for any guidance he could offer. Vanu barely glanced at him. “You wouldn’t understand my teachings,” he said curtly and continued on his way.
Not far down the path, he encountered an elderly monk, bent and weathered, sitting by the roadside in meditation. The monk opened his eyes as Vanu passed and spoke a simple greeting. But Vanu barely acknowledged him, thinking, “Why should I waste time on someone so old and lost in outdated ways?”
As Vanu journeyed further, he brushed off similar encounters, certain that none of them could truly understand his wisdom. Each interaction reflected a subtle arrogance, but Vanu was too caught up in his self-image to see it.
In silence and surrender, one discovers that the most radiant light casts the deepest shadow.
III. The Strange Hermit
After days of travel, Vanu finally reached the secluded hermitage. He was met by an old hermit with eyes that glistened with an unusual clarity. The hermit greeted him with a warm smile, but his gaze seemed to pierce straight into Vanu’s heart.
“You seek the wisdom that lies beyond self, beyond ego?” the hermit asked.
“Yes,” Vanu replied confidently. “I am ready to transcend to the next level of enlightenment.”
The hermit gave a cryptic smile. “Then you must know that the brightest flame casts the longest shadow.”
Vanu felt a flicker of irritation at the hermit’s words, which sounded like a riddle. “I have conquered my ego,” he replied, “and I seek only to expand my wisdom.”
The hermit nodded but said nothing more. Instead, he led Vanu to a darkened chamber in the heart of the hermitage. At the centre stood an ancient mirror.
“If you truly seek to see all that is hidden, look into this mirror,” the hermit instructed. “But know this—what you see may unsettle you.”
Vanu felt his heart pound with a mix of excitement and apprehension. Steeling himself, he stepped forward and gazed into the mirror.
In the mirror of self-reflection, our true battles begin, where every shattered illusion reveals a path to freedom.
IV. Descent into the Mirror of Flames
At first, Vanu saw only his own reflection, but as he continued to gaze, his face began to change. The reflection twisted, revealing a harsh expression—a scowl of arrogance, superiority, and disdain. It was a side of him he barely recognized, and yet, he could not deny its familiarity.
As he watched, the reflection shifted again, showing moments from his past where he had hurt others with his pride: the farmer he’d dismissed, the elder monk he’d scorned, and countless others who had sought his guidance, only to be met with condescension.
“No,” Vanu whispered. “This cannot be true. I am beyond ego.”
His voice echoed in the silent chamber. The reflection in the mirror sneered back at him as if mocking his denial. Anger flared within him, and he felt a surge of resentment toward the hermit for placing him in this humiliating situation.
In a moment of rage, Vanu raised his hand and struck the mirror, shattering it. As the shards fell, a fierce heat filled the room. The flames of his anger and pride leapt from the broken mirror, enveloping him in an intense, suffocating heat.
The journey to enlightenment is not a peak to reach but a continuous path to tread, softened by humility and tempered by compassion.
V. The Flames of Ego
The room around him transformed, becoming a fiery vision. The walls seemed to melt, and Vanu found himself surrounded by flames. Each flame carried a memory—moments of his life that he had buried, times when his ego had pushed people away, burned bridges, and left scars on those who had once looked up to him. The heat of his arrogance, his judgment, and his pride engulfed him, showing him the destruction he had caused.
Every corner of his mind was ablaze with regret. He saw his disciples, friends, and family scorched by the flames of his unchecked ego.
The flames grew higher and higher, consuming everything he held dear until he could barely breathe. In desperation, Vanu cried out, “Please, stop! I see now!”
VI. The Sage’s Revelation
As if in answer to his plea, the hermit reappeared, his face calm and unaffected by the flames around him. The hermit looked at Vanu with a mixture of compassion and sorrow.
“Your ego is the flame,” he said softly. “It burns through your relationships, through your peace, and through your wisdom. The more you ignore it, the stronger it grows, until it devours you completely.”
Vanu collapsed to the ground, overcome by shame and remorse. He had thought himself enlightened, yet he had been blind to the darkness within him. “What must I do?” he asked, voice breaking.
The hermit reached out a hand, helping him to his feet. “To extinguish the flames, you must let go of the idea that you are beyond the ego. You must embrace humility, see yourself as no greater or lesser than those around you, and act from a place of true compassion.”
Vanu nodded, feeling the weight of his arrogance fall away. He knew that the path to true enlightenment was not a destination but a continuous journey of self-awareness and humility.
Ego is a flame that burns brightest when unseen.
VII. The Path to Redemption
With newfound clarity, Vanu left the hermitage, humbled and transformed. As he journeyed home, he revisited the places where he had scorned those who sought his wisdom. This time, he approached them with humility, offering genuine kindness and compassion.
The farmer he had dismissed welcomed him warmly, sharing stories and lessons of his simple wisdom. The elderly monk, whom Vanu had thought senile, spoke words of depth and insight that moved him profoundly. The child he had ignored listened to his stories with rapt attention, offering fresh perspectives that brought joy to Vanu’s heart.
Each interaction softened him, bringing down the walls of his ego piece by piece, until he felt truly open and connected with those around him.
VIII. Closing Reflections
When he finally returned home, Vanu resumed his role as a spiritual teacher, but his demeanour had changed. He spoke less and listened more, his teachings reflecting a gentler, humbler spirit. His followers sensed this change, though they couldn’t fully grasp the depths of his transformation.
In his heart, Vanu knew he still had much to learn, and he embraced the journey with humility. He realized that enlightenment was not a matter of reaching a final, lofty peak but a path of continuous learning and growth. True wisdom, he understood, came only through surrender, humility, and the courage to face the shadow within.
From that day forward, Vanu would often sit in quiet reflection, reminding himself of the words of the hermit: “The flame that shines brightest casts the longest shadow.” And he would look inward, knowing that his journey was not to conquer the ego but to live alongside it, vigilant and humble, forever watchful of the shadow it cast.
And so, with every day that passed, Vanu lived a life devoted to humility and self-awareness, walking the path of true wisdom—a path that transcended both light and shadow.
The moral of The Mirror of Flames is that true wisdom and enlightenment require humility and self-awareness. Ego blinds us to our flaws and distances us from others, leading to destruction in our relationships and inner peace. Only by acknowledging and confronting our ego can we transform it into a force for growth, connecting us authentically with ourselves and those around us. Realizing that enlightenment is not an endpoint but a journey of humility and continuous self-reflection is essential to living a life of true spiritual fulfilment.
