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Homai - Ego

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Definition: homai is usually interpreted to mean ego. The word homai comes from:
  • Hau - egotism, selfishness.
  • Haoman - self importance, conceit.
The literal meaning of homai is selfishness. Homai results when a soul exists in the state of duality, relating to the self as a separate entity from the divine. Homai manifests in the subconscious as an inner dialogue of urgent voices driving the soul to compete and accomplish. The voices are known as five evils:Self perpetuating imbalance created by self excessive indulgence can emerge as ambitious self conceit and causes vanity, envy, avarice, vice, and evil wrong doing. The five components of ego are sometimes referred to as five thieves of indulgence which work together to plunder the soul spiritually for material gain.

Pronunciation: Ho - mai Vowels are a phonetic symbols. The o sounds like a-ou similar to house. The ai sound is between man and men.
Alternate Spellings: Houmai
Examples:

Guru Amar Daas wrote:

  • "Is daehee andar panch chor vaseh kaam krodh lobh moh ahnkaaraa||
    Within this body dwell the five thieves; lust, anger, greed, attachment and pride." SGGS||600
  • "Man tan soupae aagai darae houmai vichahu maar ||
    The Mind and body places as offerings before the divine, conquer and eradicate egotism from within." SGGS||28

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