Remedies, Gemstones and the Exhaustion of Ego

I have written quite a few articles on Remedies and Gemstones over the years. My position has evolved with time, but the basic understanding has remained largely the same. I have never considered Remedies and Gemstones as some magical mechanism through which we can force life to happen according to our wishes. You can read my views on remedies here -https://www.astrosaxena.com/articles/RemediesANewApproach .

In fact, I have repeatedly said that I don't provide Remedies or Gemstones in my consultations. But perhaps there is another dimension to this whole subject which can now be explored. Maybe Remedies and Gemstones are not meant to bring any drastic change to our life at all. Maybe they are meant to change our relationship with life. And that changes the whole perspective.

Remedies as Devices

Let us first understand the word Device.

A device is something which helps us move from one state of consciousness to another. For example, a boat is a device to cross a river. Once the river is crossed, we don't need to carry the boat on our head.

Similarly, many things in spirituality can be understood as Devices. Meditation can be a Device. Prayer can be a Device. A Temple can be a Device. A Mantra can be a Device. A Guru can be a Device. A Mala can be a Device. A Gemstone can be a Device. A Remedy can be a Device. Even the concept of God can be a Device. The purpose of the Device is not necessarily to produce a particular external event. Its purpose may simply be to help us move from ego towards surrender.

Why Do We Look for Remedies?

Normally, we start looking for Remedies when life is not happening according to our expectations. There is a problem in relationship. There is difficulty in career. There is financial uncertainty. There is a health concern. There is a family issue. Something is not happening at the time we want it to happen. Then we ask: "What should I do?"

And very often, the answer becomes: "Perform this Remedy." "Wear this Gemstone." "Do this Pooja." "Chant this Mantra." "Donate this thing."

There is nothing inherently wrong with doing any of these things. The problem begins when we start believing that these actions give us control over existence. Then the Remedy itself becomes another expression of ego.

 From Bargaining to Surrender

There is a huge difference between these two approaches: "I am doing this Remedy so that God gives me what I want." and "I am doing this Remedy because it helps me to surrender and accept whatever event existence wants me to face."

The first is a bargain. The second is surrender. The first says: "My will should happen." The second says: "Let Thy will happen." This distinction is extremely important.

In many of my earlier writings, I have said that when worship contains a demand, it starts becoming a bargain with God. True worship would be gratitude without conditions. But perhaps even a Remedy can become meaningful when we look at it from the perspective of surrender.

Remedy as a Device to develop Optimism

There is another reason why I don't completely reject Remedies and Gemstones. If someone is going through a difficult phase and performing a certain Remedy gives that person optimism, strength and courage to face life, then I don't see anything wrong with it. 

The problem is not the Remedy. The problem is the belief attached to the Remedy. If the belief is: "Because I am wearing this Gemstone, everything will now happen according to my wishes." then the Gemstone has strengthened ego. Also, just give it a thought that there are 8 billion+ people in this world. What if everyone’s life works as per his wishes? The world would become a chaos. 

But if the feeling is: "I don't know what is going to happen, but this practice gives me trust and helps me surrender to whatever happens." then perhaps the same Gemstone is functioning as a spiritual Device. This is why I have earlier accepted that Remedies and Gemstones may have value when they create positivity, optimism, alignment and surrender.

The Same Applies to God

Now we can take this understanding one step further. Why do human beings pray? Why do they fold their hands before something bigger than themselves? Why do they bow down? Why do they visit Temples, Mosques, Churches, Gurudwaras or other sacred places?

One way of looking at it is that human beings are trying to connect themselves with something greater than their individual identity. And the moment I accept that there is something greater than "me", the ego receives a shock.

The ego says: "I am doing everything." Surrender says: "I am only an instrument." The ego says: "I know what should happen." Surrender says: "I don't know." The ego says: "I control life." Surrender says: "Life is happening through me."

So perhaps the concept of God itself can be understood as a tremendous Device for exhausting ego.

Even the Guru is a Device

The same can be said about a Guru. Ideally, the Guru should not become another object of ego. The Guru should help you see through the ego. But what often happens? The ego simply changes its clothes.

Earlier: "I am better than everyone." Now: "My Guru is better than everyone's Guru."

Earlier: "I have the best religion." Now: "I have the best spiritual path."

Earlier: "I have achieved something." Now: "I have become spiritual."

The ego has survived. It has simply become more sophisticated. This is why every spiritual Device has to be used carefully. Otherwise, the Device which was supposed to dissolve ego becomes nourishment for ego.

The Costly Gemstone Problem

This is perhaps where Gemstones become particularly interesting. Suppose someone wears a very expensive Gemstone. Now the person starts thinking: "I am wearing a very powerful stone." Then: "My planet is now under control." Then: "My life is going to change because I am wearing this stone." And finally:"I did this because I am spiritually advanced enough to know these things."

What started as a Gemstone has now become an identity. The Gemstone was supposed to help surrender the ego. Instead, the ego has started wearing the Gemstone. This is the irony.

Ego Can Use Anything

Ego is extremely intelligent. It can use almost anything for its own survival. Give it money and it says: "I am rich." Give it knowledge and it says: "I know." Give it power and it says: "I am powerful." Give it beauty and it says: "I am beautiful." Give it spirituality and it says: "I am spiritual." Give it meditation and it says: "I meditate." Give it a Guru and it says: "I have found the right Guru." Give it a Gemstone and it says: "I have the right Gemstone." So the problem is never really the object. The problem is what the ego does with the object.

All Devices Can Become Ego Devices

This is why something very interesting happens in spiritual evolution. We create different Devices to exhaust ego. But very often, those same Devices end up strengthening ego.

We create religions to surrender to God. Then we fight over religions.

We create Temples to remember the Divine. Then we become identified with our Temple.

We create Gurus to help us dissolve ego. Then we become proud of our Guru.

We create meditation to go beyond the mind. Then we become proud of how much we meditate.

We perform charity to reduce attachment to money.  Then we become proud of how much charity we have done.

We wear Gemstones to create trust and surrender. Then we become proud of the Gemstones we wear.

This is the strange game of ego.

Awareness Changes the Entire Game

This is where Awareness becomes important. Awareness does not necessarily ask you to stop doing everything. Awareness simply asks you to watch why you are doing it. Am I doing this Remedy because I am afraid? Am I doing it because I want to control life? Am I doing it because somebody told me that something is wrong with me? Am I doing it because society says my life should look different? Am I doing it because I want to bargain with God? Or am I doing it simply as a way of becoming receptive, optimistic and surrendered?

This is why I have repeatedly called Awareness the best Remedy. If awareness is present, even a simple prayer can become profound. Without awareness, even years of spiritual practice can become another form of unconsciousness.

The Pothole and the Remedy

I have earlier used the example of a pothole. If there is a pothole on the road and I am aware of it, I simply avoid it. If I fall into it because I was unaware, then the first requirement is again awareness.

Doing a Remedy while sitting inside the pothole doesn't necessarily solve anything. I need to see the situation clearly and find my way out. The same principle applies to life. Astrology can help us become aware of our tendencies. Meditation can help us become aware of our mind. Relationships can expose our unconscious patterns. Life situations can show us where our ego is still holding on.

And Remedies, if one chooses to use them, can become Devices which remind us to surrender. But none of these Devices should become substitutes for Awareness.

What Does It Mean to Surrender?

Surrender does not mean becoming passive. It does not mean that we stop making efforts. It does not mean that we stop taking responsibility. Surrender simply means that after doing whatever is required from our side, we stop demanding that existence must produce a particular result.

I can make the effort. I cannot command the result. I can plant the seed. I cannot order the tree to grow. I can prepare the ground. I cannot dictate when the rain should come. This is where surrender begins. And perhaps this is also where the usefulness of a Remedy begins.

Remedy Is Not to Change Life

Therefore, I would now define a Remedy in a slightly different way. A Remedy is not necessarily a Device to change an external event. A Remedy can be a Device to change our inner relationship with that event.

A Gemstone may not be there to make a particular event happen. A Prayer may not be there to convince God to fulfil our wishes. A Pooja may not be there to bribe existence. A Mantra may not be there to control planets. They can simply become reminders: "I am not the doer." "I don't know everything." "Life is bigger than my individual understanding." "I can make my effort and surrender the result." "Whatever is happening can also become part of my evolution."

This is a completely different approach to Remedies.

 Eventually, Even the Device Has to Go

But there is one final step. If the purpose of the Device is to exhaust ego, then eventually the Device itself has to disappear. You don't need a boat after crossing the river. You don't need a ladder after reaching the roof.

Similarly, there may come a point where you don't need a particular Remedy to feel surrendered. You don't need a Gemstone to feel protected. You don't need a particular ritual to feel connected with God. You don't need someone to continuously tell you what to do. Surrender becomes your natural state. And when surrender becomes natural, the Device has completed its purpose.

Ego Eventually Dies Its Own Death

Perhaps this is the most important understanding. We cannot fight ego directly. Even saying: "I will destroy my ego" can become another ego statement. The ego can even become proud of its own humility. So perhaps we don't have to kill the ego. We only have to keep becoming aware of it. We keep seeing how it creates identities. We keep seeing how it converts every experience into "me" and "mine."

We keep seeing how it wants control. We keep seeing how it wants recognition. We keep seeing how it even uses spirituality for its survival. And slowly, something happens. The ego begins to lose its nourishment. Then one day, perhaps, it simply exhausts itself. It dies its own death. Not because "I killed my ego." But because there is no longer enough unconsciousness to sustain it.

Conclusion - So, if someone asks me today: "Are Remedies and Gemstones useful?" My answer would be: They can be, if you understand them as Devices.

Use them for optimism. Use them for positivity. Use them as reminders of surrender. Use them to become receptive. Use them to remember that life is bigger than your individual will.

But don't use them as tools to control existence. Don't use them to bargain with God. Don't use them to escape your responsibilities. And most importantly, don't allow the Remedy itself to become another source of ego.

Because the real purpose of every spiritual Device is ultimately the same: to take you from "I am doing" towards "It is happening." Or Doing itself is part of Happening. Maybe that is the real purpose of worship. Maybe that is the real purpose of prayer. Maybe that is the real purpose of a Guru. Maybe that is the real purpose of meditation. Maybe that is the real purpose of a Remedy.

And perhaps, at the deepest level, even the concept of God is simply the greatest Device created for one purpose: to help the individual ego surrender to something greater than itself.

Eventually, when surrender becomes natural, the Device is no longer needed. And then there is no Remedy. There is no Gemstone. There is no worship. There is no bargain. There is not even a "me" left to bargain with existence. There is simply Life happening. 

Gratitude!!!