Bhubaneswar, Jan 16: Eminent philosopher and national bestselling author Acharya Prashant on Wednesday asserted that the human ego, often mistaken as the core of one’s identity, is merely a psychological feeling and not a reality.
Addressing students and faculty members at a special session held at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, SOA Deemed to be University, he challenged the belief that ego is essential for success or achievement.
The event, jointly organised by IMS and SUM Hospital and the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Bhubaneswar, marked the conclusion of Acharya Prashant’s Bhubaneswar tour, which drew large audiences across academic platforms.
Explaining the modern obsession with success, he said people chase achievement and consumption, believing it leads to happiness. Describing this pursuit as misleading, he stressed that the real purpose of life is to understand the restless sense of ‘I am’ within every individual, which represents inner loneliness and dissatisfaction.
He observed that despite material progress, people remain frustrated and unfulfilled. Linking ego-driven consumption to ecological crises, he said the problem is spiritual and cannot be solved by technology alone.
Calling ego a psychological error, Acharya Prashant warned it traps individuals in endless pursuit of happiness. He was felicitated by Prof. Sanghamitra Mishra and Prof. Goutam Saha on the occasion.
About the Author
