Whose Ego Is It, Anyway?

Tony has a generous friend who owns the latest model of Audi. Tony loves this car. He asks his friend if he can borrow it for a while. His friend agrees and lets Tony enjoy it for some time. Soon, Tony forgets that the car isn't his and begins to consider it his personal possession. He takes this Audi everywhere, flaunting it before those who don't have it. He expects everyone to admire it. He seeks everyone's praise for himself.

People are impressed very quickly because they don't realize the car doesn't actually belong to him. Before long, Tony becomes the talk of the town as the only person who owns this amazing vehicle. After receiving so much attention and importance, Tony grows arrogant and begins looking down on others who cannot afford an Audi. He convinces himself that he is someone special, a chosen one, and that is why he has what others lack.

Tony's friend, however, is magnanimous. He doesn't mind, because he knows Tony will eventually have to return the car. He lets his friend enjoy this illusion of success. He never tells anyone that Tony doesn't own the car. But soon, Tony's ego gets the better of him. He wants the whole world to know that he has the latest Audi. So he leverages social media to the fullest, posting pictures and videos of the car regularly. He travels, meets people, and promotes his Audi-leaving no stone unturned.

Tony comes to believe that his Audi deserves to be monetized as well. Before long, he becomes a brand ambassador for Audi, earning a massive income. Since his friend never interrupts him, Tony completely forgets that the car was only borrowed. His friend doesn't question why he is making such a name for himself when the car isn't his. He doesn't challenge his right to earn so much through this display. He doesn't take the car back. What an extraordinary friend Tony has!

This, in truth, is the story of modern man. Every successful person is a Tony. The Audi represents his talents and gifts. The magnanimous friend is God.

We, as human beings, possess many abilities and skills that are nothing more than the manifestation of divine attributes within us. Yet we think we own these traits, forgetting that their actual source is our Creator, who possesses them on a completely different plane. He lets us borrow these gifts-and could take them back in an instant-but He is too generous to do so. Because of His silence, we imagine ourselves to be their true owners. How ignorant we are!

There is a reason why all religions and spiritual traditions have condemned arrogance so strongly. Scriptures and revelations insist that man should be humble and walk the earth with humility. Yet the modern man doesn't understand this; he is too consumed by the desire to cash in on his talents. This is why so few people use their God-given gifts to serve humanity. True servitude requires immense gratitude to the Creator, while the pursuit of personal glory requires the mindset of "I deserve this and that, and I must have it at all costs"-the exact opposite of gratitude.

The modern man fails to see the clash between self-glorification and humility. He does not realize that glorifying God is the natural outcome of true humility. He believes that after wildly chasing his desires and fulfilling them, he can simply utter the empty words "Thank God" and be free of arrogance. The truth is that a truly humble man would never chase such desires in the first place, for he neither sees his own significance nor craves others' endorsement. He is free from that race altogether.

One might argue that even if one is supremely talented, turning talent into money requires so much hard work that it becomes one's own achievement rather than a divine favor. But here we overlook two essential truths. First, to work toward any goal, we must have a normally functioning body and mind-gifts from the heavens. Second, after putting in our best efforts, we receive only the sustenance that God had decreed for us even before our birth. That is bounty in its fullest form.

One might also ask: what about those talents that cannot naturally be put to the service of humanity? The modern man's solution is simple-enjoy the best of this world through them and then, at the end, ask God for forgiveness, since He is the Most Forgiving. But a deeper reflection shows that faith is tested precisely at such crossroads. One way is to sacrifice those abilities for a higher cause and please God. The other is to cash in on them and please your own ego. How will a man of faith choose?

Yet this issue is not limited to the modern man. We often encounter religious people who are just as arrogant as any celebrity. We do not sense the fragrance of humility when we meet them either. Why? Because deep down, they carry the thought: "There is something special about me because of which God chose me for His path, while He did not choose countless others." They may never say this openly. If confronted, they will deny it. Their tongues proclaim it is all because of God, but their hearts are not in agreement.

Mystics across ages and traditions have pointed out that when a man of God truly attains gnosis, he realizes there was never anything special in him-it was purely a divine favor. He sees himself as a beggar whom the King invited to His court, with no sense of entitlement at all. He knows that had the King not bestowed this honor, he would still be a beggar wandering the streets. Here, his tongue and heart are in unison. By contrast, the average religious man, who has not yet reached gnosis, merely pays lip service to this truth.

Spiritual teachings make it clear that just as fornication is a sin, so too is considering oneself superior to another. Yet the average religious person focuses only on the outward law, while the gnostic grasps the spirit behind it. Even if the gnostic has not studied every detail of the law, he can discern whether something is lawful or unlawful because his heart is tuned to the essence of divine command.

There are four main levels of humility. The lowest is that of the ordinary man-mere pretense, not true humility of the heart. The second is that of the practicing believer-sometimes humble, sometimes arrogant, for he is not yet mature. The third is that of the gnostic-permanent humility, attained through inner purification. The fourth is that of the prophet-an even higher humility born of the unveiling from God at a level no gnostic can reach.

Throughout history, spiritual traditions have emphasized the need for a mentor on the path. Why? Because while a holy book may inspire humility, it cannot watch over you to detect when your ego creeps into your actions. A living mentor can see when you are hiding pride behind refined language or when arrogance slips into even your religious deeds. A book cannot.

And yet, it is often observed that even those connected to saints are not free from arrogance. Why? Because ultimately, the decisive factor is divine favor. If God wills to save you from arrogance, you are saved. If He does not grant you humility, no saint or sage can instill it in you.

One might ask: how can we remain humble when humility seems a barrier in worldly affairs? The reason is that we pursue two conflicting goals at once. We want to impress both the Creator and His creation. But if you choose only the first goal, humility will lead to all the desired outcomes. If you choose the second, you will have to compromise humility countless times.

So, whose ego is it, anyway? Don't be deceived by your success-whether secular or religious-for it is not yours but borrowed from above. Be humble; be grateful. For you are only the instrument, never the musician.