Pinpoint Ego

On page 137 of  M.P. Pandit's book 'A Summary of Savitri', Sri Aurobindo states, 

Slowly sensibilities gather around a pinpoint of ego; a sentient

creature finds its poise. Gradually the formless Consciousness appears,

thought and feelings stir, repetition forms habit, habit gives the appearance

of permanence and a conscious being is built.

How is the creation at first? First, man lived alone in the forests and then as Stone

Age Man. All slowly began to contemplate and the habit to live in groups started. From

group living, the idea of separation came. As the population grew more, the sense of

village, clan and caste came. First all were equal, then differences began to appear. The

ego, which was a pinpoint, started to grow. The mind, which was established in

equanimity, began to perceive differences. Feelings then arose and flowed. It is through

feelings that different qualities began to appear in man’s mind: anger, jealousy, greed, ‘I

and Mine’. Tamasic and Rajasic qualities began to enter and interfere in the mind of man,

who had been in Sathwa Guna. Through this 'feelings struggle', man went on the wrong

path. He then developed the habit of repeating whatever he did again and again, becoming

a slave to his many habits. These habits gave the appearance of permanence to him. Being

a ‘man’ means to be born, eat, grow and die. It is in this way, man spends innumerable

lifetimes. Again and again, he becomes fully immersed in the same habits. Many saints

and sages appeared to show man the path to change these habits. They declared, 

... Birth has not been given to you for this! Birth should not be to connect one to a

body. You are Atma. Realize this. It is through your feelings you are born and die again

and again.

 

1

Yet, when they said this, no one believed them. Man could not leave his life of habit.

Through habitual living, man thinks all is permanent. Age after age, the same habits come

again and again. Man thinks that all worldly life is natural and permanent. It is through

this habit of life that difficulties, disease, old age, death and all come. As these are habits

for man, he sees them as permanent living. Out of many millions, one becomes a saint and

tries to guide the people along the correct path. Yet, what they teach is only practiced by a

few. 

Thus, the greatest Avatar came to the world to try to change the habits of

humankind. He told that all are slaves to habit and tried to awaken them from ignorance.

He preached this for 84 years. As He is God, many people came in groups to see Him. They

listened to His words, yet, only a few practiced what He preached. Now, Swami and I

change the world and make a New Age, the Sathya Yuga.