Ego arises out of self respect. Hence respect others and don’t expect respect from others, ego will reduce. It is matter of habit. Right now we have habit of expecting respect. Habits cannot be changed overnight. Sustained efforts are necessary. First dissociate soul from body. It is your body and you are not the body. Insults are made to body, not to soul. Every soul is divine, full of happiness, indestructible. Ego arises when bodily aspects are taken into account.

Material possessions achievements are limited to the lifetime. Compare the lifetime with infinity. Material possessions and achievements will appear nonsensical. Ego will come down.

One can also practice accepting all criticism without losing temper. Comments by others should be analyzed rationally. Comments could be either correct or incorrect. It should not disturb you. If incorrect, don’t react because they don’t apply to you. If correct, don’t react because some change is required and you need to work out some strategy for improvement.

There is a story about Lord Buddh. After listening to his discourses, a youth decided to take a road to spiritual enlightenment. The boy left house and went to Buddh and wanted to live in the monastery. His father followed him and went to the monastery. On reaching there he started abusing Buddh. He went on cursing from the morning to the evening and then went silent. Buddh told his disciples that the man must be tired of shouting the whole day and asked disciples to serve him some food. That person was surprised to meet such a nice treatment. He went to Buddh and said, ‘If I curse anyone the way I did today, I will not be allowed to stand even for a second and quarrel and fight will be inevitable.’

Buddh said,’You offered me abuses but they were of no use to me hence I did not accept them. Those abuses will be applicable to you because you find them useful.’