Even an atom has an ego, the renowned physicist Erwin Schrödinger said long ago. It is as it appeared to him. Definitely he saw something which led to conclude like that. It will not be easy to prove perhaps, but by empirical observation we can see that the animals also suffer from this ailment. I remember our dog Gorby had it to a great degree. He was a cross of local and golden retriever. When he is in the car he used to feel great. It was clear he used to despise other dogs as if they are of lower status. It was a status symbol for him. He never allowed others to touch it even. How it enters in his mind is difficult to know. Should we call it his psychological domain? Man tries to interpret according to his level of understanding. Transcending the limitation, I would consider, is simply impossible so let us accept that ego is as old as the world and it pervades everywhere.

But ego in human beings sometimes offends others. Man is a social animal. When someone’s ego encroaches on the ego of another clashes occur generating a lot of other problems. It is not normally liked by others. They think it is an affront on their personality. An egoistic man commits many other wrong doings which is not appreciated in the society. That is why in all religious scriptures it is discouraged. Despite that it is on the increase.

At present due to media proliferation this aspect of individual personality is widely affected. To begin with, take the world of glamour. In showbiz it is in the highest mode. Every actor suffers from the overdose of it.  It is so much publicized that one is likely to forget any negative aspect of it. And they don’t feel the need to bother about it. It gives them high. That is why they embrace it is all possible ways

They say that the brain is a lump of some ten billions cells but not a single cell can be identified as “I”. Then where this ‘I’ originates from? This mystery can never be cracked with the limitation of human brain. Whatever explanation is available is nothing short of safe guess work. What we call as mind is again the combined activity of the billion cells of the brain. It is a big supercomputer yet it doesn’t work like computer. As far as the processing of information is concerned, it is a computer most probably. But it goes beyond computer in developing emotions etc. How this emotion arises is not known. Probably it can be grasped in future as some robots are made capable of displaying emotion as well. It is doubtful if the artificially generated emotion can match with the real one in warmth and sensibility?    .

In the society individuals express superiority, suffer from complexes, ugliest depression, manifest anger, and want to rule over others, indulge in bragging. The inflated ego impinges on other’s ego creating host of conflicts in its wake. That is why in all religious books it is discouraged. In psychology too, it is considered a bad trait. It brings forth cordial atmosphere in the society if it is kept in check. If one is conscious about it can be easily achieved. It is surely a worth try.