Clear Teachings: What the Ego (Ahankara) Really Is in Yoga Philosophy

Most people misunderstand what ego really means in yoga. Here’s how the Sanskrit term ahankara completely changes our understanding of “self.” Most of us think “ego” means arrogance — but in yoga philosophy, ahankara points to something much deeper. In this talk, I explain how ahankara — the “I-maker” — creates our sense of individuality and why yoga teaches that it’s the root of human suffering. You’ll also learn why giving up the ego doesn’t mean becoming weak or passive, but expanding into your true nature as limitless consciousness. Drawing from Advaita Vedanta, the Bhagavad Gita, and Ramana Maharshi, I explore the moon analogy that captures this perfectly: before realisation, the ego appears to shine like the full moon at night; after realisation, it becomes like a faint crescent in daylight — still there, but overpowered by the light of the Self. 🌿 Links and resources: 👉 Subscribe to weekly emails (a short philosophical reflection each week): https://unchangingbeing.mykajabi.com/... 👉 Subscribe to this Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@unchangingbeing⁩ 👉 Join online satsang: https://unchangingbeing.com/courses-s... 👉 Join Upanishads course 2026: https://unchangingbeing.com/essence-o... 👉 Join Yama & Niyama - A Year of Self Inquiry 2026: https://unchangingbeing.com/courses-y... 👉 Sign up for Katharine's free 'Nine Key Gita Verses' pdf booklet: https://unchangingbeing.mykajabi.com/... 👉 Sign up for Katharine's free 'The Gunas & You' pdf booklet: https://unchangingbeing.mykajabi.com/... Timestamps 0:00 — Common misunderstanding of ego 1:30 — What ahankara really means in yoga 3:00 — 'Big ego', 'small ego' are coping strategies 4:29 — Flute analogy 5:06 — Ego isn't all bad 5:54 — Purifying not destroying the ego 7:05 — Ramana Maharshi’s moon analogy 9:10 — Expanding beyond ego into the Self #YogaPhilosophy #Ahankara #EgoInYoga #AdvaitaVedanta #KatharinePincham #UnchangingBeing #BhagavadGita #RamanaMaharshi #YogaWisdom #YogaTeacherTraining