The greatest obstacle to self-realization is the ego.

On the surface, this statement by Ramana Maharshi points to the ego, the sense of 'I' and 'mine,' as the main impediment to achieving self-realization. It suggests that our identification with this constructed self, with its desires, fears, and opinions, prevents us from recognizing our inherent, pure awareness.

Within Advaita Vedanta, the philosophical school Ramana Maharshi so powerfully embodied, the ego (ahamkara) is considered a veil, a superimposition upon the true Self (Atman). This Atman is identical with Brahman, the ultimate reality. The ego, born of ignorance (avidya), creates the illusion of a separate individual consciousness, obscuring the non-dual nature of existence. Ramana's teaching, particularly the practice of self-enquiry ('Who am I?'), aims to directly investigate the source of the ego, leading to its dissolution and the direct experience of the Self. It is not about eradicating the ego in the sense of destroying it, but rather understanding its illusory nature and ceasing to identify with it, thus revealing the ever-present reality of the Self.

In your life: When you feel a strong emotional reaction or a sense of personal offense, pause and ask yourself, 'Who is feeling this?' Investigate the 'I' that is experiencing the emotion, rather than immediately accepting its narrative.