Have Your Eye See The ' I ' Symptoms

A teacher completed sharing the anatomy of a human eye to the classroom. He then asked some students to highlight few extraordinary features they remember.

Some of the interesting features the students mentioned: The eye can distinguish approximately 10 million different colors. Second only to the brain in its intricacy, containing over 2 million working parts, operates with remarkable precision, reacting faster than any muscle in the body. If the human eye were a digital camera, it would have an estimated 576 megapixels. While a fingerprint has 40 unique characteristics, the iris (the coloured part of the eye) has 256 distinct features. Human babies do not produce tears until they are between four to thirteen weeks old. An eye examination can detect signs of general health issues, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, often before other symptoms appear.

The moment this feature was mentioned the class teacher asked all students to put away their books and listen to an out of syllabus teaching but a life time learning. On the black board he wrote “Have Your Eye See The 'I' Symptoms” and explained - ‘I’ is the story you tell yourself about who you are. A necessary tool for functioning in society, yet often misunderstood as the self itself. It is the constructed identity – ego- formed through memory, experience, and conditioning.

The initial awareness of being a distinct individual (individual ego) develops as early as 8 Months–2 Years. Thereafter continues to develop throughout a person's life, maturing alongside social experiences and cognitive development. Sadly no modern academic syllabus has a chapter to teach on it but scriptures bring much teachings. An healthy ego helps us make balanced decisions, regulate emotions and build relationships. But when unhealthy, it begins to distort perception.  

Known across traditions as Haumai, Nafs, Ahamkara, this ‘I’ becomes the subtle barrier between the individual soul and the divine. Scriptures have long described it as a chronic disease – a quiet viel that keeps one bound in cycles of unrest.

Every action and every word of ours reflects the condition of the ‘I’.

The symptoms: Can you see- yourself taking things personally, leading to chronic stress, anxiety, jealousy, and anger.

Can you see- you think to know everything, which closes off learning, constructive criticism, and new ideas, leading to personal and professional stagnation. 

Can you see- yourself placing self-importance above connection, causing pushing away of friends, family, and colleagues.

Can you see- yourself making arrogant or impulsive decisions leading to failures in carrier, relationships and finance.

Can you see- yourself having difficulty to understand or care about another person’s perspective, fostering a sense of entitlement.

Often being in the superior status with wealth or knowledge one has difficulty to accept the creators Hukum leading one to frequent complaining and not being in peace. What may seem a need to be right, a reluctance to apologize, or a desire of admiration their consequences are never the healthy symptoms.

Often, the eyes see the world clearly, but fails to see what lies within. The ego then becomes a silent destroyer – creating distance restlessness and quiet suffering.

Yet, what is created can be dissolved, with awareness, grace and discipline. This ‘I’ can soften -allowing the Divine within to be recognized.

May your eyes begin to see what the ‘I’ has long kept hidden.