Only where there is no ego, or at least less ego, can peace, happiness, cooperation and love flourish. Man cannot claim to be a man until this ego which urges him to destroy others is overcome by the discipline (sadhana) of service (seva). By saturating the service with love, work is offered to God; it then gets sanctified into puja. This makes it free from ego. Only by reducing his wants and overcoming jealousy and envy can man reduce his ego, since to overpower the ego is well-nigh impossible.
As a consequence of pride in one's own strength and power, a person might injure thousands, but the pride will injure that person most, being like a devil that possesses man. Man cannot claim to be man until this ego, that prompts him to ruin others and ride over others, is destroyed by sadhana (spiritual discipline). The Divine in him can manifest only when the dark forces of 'mine' and 'I' are rendered ineffective. To overpower the ego is well-nigh impossible task. We have heard of the six internal foes that haunt man every moment of his life. But the sense of 'I' and 'mine' are far more deep-rooted. People have conquered the six foes - lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride and hatred. Indeed there are many who have achieved this victory. But rare indeed is the hero who has demolished his ego and escaped from its nefarious urges.
(SSS Vol X, pg 214)
