The physical ego, the active consciousness in man, should uplift

Paramahansa Yogananda, the saint who carried the wisdom of the East to the West, spoke these luminous words: “The physical ego, the active consciousness in man, should uplift its body-identified self into unity with the soul, its true nature; it should not allow itself to remain mired in the lowly delusive strata of the senses and material entanglement.” In this teaching, he unveils the eternal struggle of mankind: the pull of the ego toward the senses, and the call of the soul toward divine freedom. To live only as the body is to dwell in shadows, but to rise into unity with the soul is to walk in the light.

The meaning of his words is a call to transcendence. The physical ego clings to identity, possessions, pleasures, and fears, mistaking them for the self. It says: “I am this body, I am these desires, I am these achievements.” Yet this is but a mirage. Yogananda warns that such identification is a trap, a “lowly delusive strata” that blinds the spirit. The soul, however, is the eternal essence — unbound, radiant, and one with the Divine. The task of man, therefore, is to lift the restless ego into harmony with the soul, until he knows himself as more than flesh and fleeting thought.

This teaching is not new, but echoes across the ages. The Bhagavad Gita speaks of Arjuna’s battle, not only against enemies on the field, but against the turmoil of his inner self. Krishna tells him: “Rise above the gunas, O Arjuna.” In other words: do not be enslaved by the senses, nor by the false identity of the ego. Instead, awaken to the immortal soul within. Yogananda, centuries later, places this truth in words that bridge East and West, reminding modern seekers that their struggles, though clothed in new garments, are the same ancient battles of spirit and matter.

History also gives us the story of Saint Francis of Assisi, who once lived in wealth, indulgence, and worldly ambition. His ego was entangled in riches and pleasures. But in a moment of awakening, he cast aside his garments, renounced possessions, and embraced poverty, not as deprivation but as liberation. He uplifted his “body-identified self” into unity with the soul, finding joy in divine simplicity. His life became a living echo of Yogananda’s teaching: that freedom is found not in the senses, but in surrender to the higher self.

The origin of Yogananda’s insight lies in the ancient science of yoga, which teaches that man’s suffering is born of ignorance — avidya, the failure to know the soul as the true self. When the mind identifies with the body and its cravings, it is tossed like a ship upon stormy seas. But when the ego yields to the soul, the waters grow calm, and man perceives the eternal shore. Yogananda’s mission was to awaken Western hearts to this truth, showing that the same Spirit flows in all traditions, whether spoken by yogis of India, prophets of Israel, or saints of Christendom.

The lesson for future generations is profound: do not allow the ego to reign as master. See it as a servant, meant to be uplifted and united with the higher light. Nourish not only the body but also the soul. Practice meditation, self-discipline, and acts of compassion, for these are the bridges that carry the self from matter to spirit. When the senses lure you downward into restlessness, remember Yogananda’s words: that your true home is in the radiance of the soul.

Therefore, O seeker, let your life not be chained to material entanglement. Use the world, but do not be used by it. Enjoy beauty, but do not be enslaved by desire. Honor the body, but do not mistake it for the self. Instead, uplift your mind in prayer, your breath in meditation, and your heart in love, until your ego dissolves into the light of the soul. For in that union lies the eternal victory — the triumph of spirit over matter, of truth over illusion, of the immortal self over the fleeting mask.