“To be, or not to be—that is the question.” These words, spoken by Hamlet in Shakespeare’s play of the same name, are perhaps the most widely recognized sentence in all of English literature. In this soliloquy, Hamlet wrestles with the existential question of whether or not to continue living, or to enter “the undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveler returns.”

Yet for the devotee, this question takes on a deeper meaning: whether to continue living in the ego, or to brave that “undiscovered country” in search of soul consciousness. Though being in the state of the ego cannot provide us with true happiness, it is at least familiar territory—terrain we know well.

We might think of the ego as a spoiled child who constantly asks, “What about me? Where’s mine?” Our soul nature, by contrast, is more like a loving mother who says, “All that I am and have, I give unconditionally to my children.” So we need to decide, not whether “to be or not to be,” but what we wish to be.

Crossing the bridge from ego to soul awareness takes faith and courage. When we begin the spiritual journey, we’re not certain what we will discover at the end. We are told that we are a spark of the Divine, but how does this relate to the current state in which we find ourselves? As Hamlet said in the same speech: “Thus conscience doth make cowards of us all.” The quest for God is not for cowards, but for those who are willing to accept the challenge, and persevere with determination to the end.

Yet once we begin, the journey may prove easier than we imagine. A friend once remarked, “People think that the spiritual path is long, but actually it’s only about three feet—from the base of the spine to the spiritual eye.” We can shorten it even further, for ego consciousness is centered in the medulla oblongata at the base of the brain. The true journey then becomes the movement of energy from the medulla through the brain to the spiritual eye.

Swami Kriyananda wrote: “When you feel any concentration of energy there [at the medulla], make a determined effort to relax at that point. Release the energy, and let it flow forward to the forehead at the point between the eyebrows.”

In Sadhu, Beware! A New Approach to Renunciation, Swamiji gives many practical tips for ego-transcendence. Here are a few:

When you see something you’d like for yourself, buy it, but give it freely to someone else. When people praise you, don’t accept the praise in your heart, but give the credit to God. If you see others eager to share their opinions, let them speak. Share your thoughts only if you see that others might be interested.

These are only three of the thirty-three suggestions in his book, but they illustrate the principle: Be vigilant about quieting the “spoiled child” of the ego, and choose instead to dwell in the expanded Self.

Equally important in drawing us from ego to soul consciousness are the techniques of meditation—especially Kriya Yoga. The more we meditate and bring energy to the spiritual eye, the more natural and familiar our soul nature becomes. All the techniques of yoga have essentially this goal: to show us who and what we really are. Over time, as we persist in our efforts, old egoic habits and attitudes fall away like a snake shedding its skin. Gradually, we become more at home in the peace and joy of the soul than in the ceaseless turmoil of the ego.

Finally—and perhaps most important in our effort to identify with the soul—is the grace of the guru. Continually guiding us with loving hands, the guru always holds up to us our highest potential, no matter how often we stumble. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says to Arjuna: “Absorb yourself in Me; be wholly devoted to Me; worship and bow to Me alone: So shall you undoubtedly reach Me. This I promise you faithfully, for you are dear to Me. (18:65)

Let’s rise above the clouds of Hamlet’s uncertainty and mental paralysis, and stride forward as spiritual warriors in Yogananda’s army. With confidence and conviction, let us live Master’s words: “When this I shall die, then shall I know who am I.”

With joy and gratitude for God’s gifts,

Nayaswami Devi

Listen to Devi as she first reads the blog, then expands on its meaning and messages for readers with behind-the-blog commentary. Subscribe to the podcast or download the audio recording by right-clicking here. Or listen to it here (10:37):

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