Hi Justine

From my point of view, the ego is an intellect construction.  It filters our reality to create illusions (mostly it hides fears ). 

The ego want and desire things (or idea, or identification, or belief) to fill itself... otherwise fears would be shown.  More people are trap and identified with theses idea and beliefs, more it builds their ego. That why generally, people think they are their ego.  They don't want to see behind it, because there is fears and unkown.

Having no ego don't means you become nobody, you just become who you truly are, not just an idea of who you are.  You become the true manifestation of the own individuality of your being.


Hope it helps!

I don't believe that ego exists in the way people sometimes believe.

We incarnate into a body that has as a part of its programming, a self-defense instinct.  Animals use this instinct to do things like bark at each other, while people use their intellect to create personality aspects that are partly based upon how much they are influenced by their self-defense instinct rather than their higher self.

If one wants to get free of negative personality aspects, one needs to work on overcoming these aspects, rather than waiting for one's so called ego to mysteriously vaporize away some day.

I figure our self-defense instinct stays behind with our body when we return to the spirit World. However, our negative personality aspects will still need to be dealt with.

Hi Justine, I think transcending the ego means thinking "other" is yourself, therefore it's a oneness concept.
therefore a person who has transcended ego does not hold grudges when interacting with it's other "selves."

self defensiveness is the spinning of the 1st 3 chakras around issues of survival, self empowerment (at expense of another) and procreation, sexual issues.

the active fourth chakra, the heart chakra when open is the process of ego transcendence, as there is nothing to defend, if all are seen as one with yourself.
That open heart however, does not mean you have to allow bad mannered folks walk on you. It does not mean you cannot voice objections and say ouch when it hurts.
that is the only way ego can interact is by asserting themselves. while it may seem we are not all mother theresa, we are truly mirrors of one another in our oneness.
You always get back what you dish out.
If the intention is loving communication, it is the active heart speaking. we are all destined for transcendence of the self serving ego.

we just get bogged down in who's telling the truth? We all are, but we need a common truth.

Transcendence of ego is to see yourself as no different than another, in that we are all one. When we don't need to express anything but love, we are above the ego's domain which seeks power or recognition on it's own terms. Transcendence means taking responsibility you brought everything down on yourself. nobody did it to you. You pulled it in. You forgive yourself, not the other.

You can not get rid of ego. You can only forgive it and ask to do better next time. We must ask help in forgiving the ego. Then the way is shown. Forgiveness is choosing love but not submitting to fear.

The ego says we are not safe here. The HS says we are safe. In simply forgiving. There are two voices in our head. The ego speaks first always. HS is quieter but more powerful. HS is the voice for love.

 Like Albert, I believe the "ego" is a somewhat misunderstood concept and partly a biological construct.  

 But the latter explanation leaves us with more questions, similar to the chicken and egg question.  What came first, separative and fearful thoughts and patterns or the physical which seems to have an general effect of amplifying those limiting beliefs and feelings to the nth degree?

 I believe there is way too much emphasis on ego in too much spiritual literature and teachings out there, also the emphasis tends to be too negative and polarized.  

  I'm finding that the more i focus on living love, compassion, and thinking about Source and the former eternal truths, the more it helps to weaken and break up those limiting aspects of myself which others might label "ego".  

 This doesn't mean that I'm unaware of what needs to be worked on, or try ignore or repress anything, but rather the focus is on what's positive.  

 Like attracts and begets like, focus on the positive, and it strengthens the positive, and same conversely with the negative.  If anything, the more i focus on and grow in love, the more i consciously become aware of what's limiting me, but its different than thinking of and focusing on some kind of generalized ego monster.  

 These limiting patterns while they are generally related to fear and separative tendencies, also are more specific and have to do with karmic patterns from other lives and also repressed childhood issues, etc.    Hence these are specific patterns that tie into a greater self, which need to be unraveled or i.e. the wheat needs to be separated from the chaff.  

 To try to fight a generalized ego monster, and keeping that in the mind, will tend to strengthen those very attributes/tendencies/aspects you want to lose.  

 Love is what is real, and is what deserves much more focus and attention.  

 Also Justine, my understanding is that individuality and ego are two different concepts.  

 Individuality i believe is Source given, and the latter we manifested and must eventually lose to know full and complete happiness.

 There is nothing wrong with having a sense of self--tis a beautiful thing, but when that sense of self gets so bloated, self aggrandizing, and hurtful to others (or the little self), and loses the sense of collective self/Oneness...well that's where suffering begins for the little self and its now limited awareness/existence.  

 To be free, is to know real individuality, balanced and merged with a full awareness of The Oneness at the same time.   And the meaning, teh concept, the truth of it IS so simple.  When you feel, think, and do good for others, it makes you feel better.  

 A child teaches that when it hands to another child, its beloved piece of cake, and expects nothing in return, but is warmed by the smile of delight on the other childs face.  This is how Source gives to us, and to know Source fully, you have to be like Source for again like attracts and begets like always. and forever in this Universe.   But you will still be you, just a more refined, creative, aware, and joyful kind of you.  Isn't that a wonderful gift from Source to us?

Hunh, I followed till the very end. The majority of your post sounded like you do not believe we lose individuality, more like enhance it by expanding outward and taking in the needs of many others other than ourselves. But then you said we eventually need to lose individuality....
Ugh, I just feel stupid.

Oh yes, we certainly feel like one at times! Lol, I have been told we need to become less codependent!
If anyone has read The Road Less Traveled, Scott Peck has an interesting take on spiritual growth. He says that the ego boundary need to be snapped firmly into place before it can be transcended- sort of a movement back and forth across that ego line.
Sort of like when I compliment my lover and I can feel her happiness. It's like I move across to her boundary then back to my own.
Anais Nin says relationships are at least as much about you as they are about the other person. We crave opening ourselves to become known and appreciated by others.
I personally feel unconditional love leads to a feeling of quiet and wholeness, while expressions of individuality are more likely to lead to thrilling experiences, like the thrill that rises when you notice someone looking at you from across the room....

Justin said:  Also Justine, my understanding is that individuality and ego are two different concepts
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I agree this makes much sense Justin, well said. it is easy to get the idea within some literature that we must rid ourselves of ego, after spending much of life simply making an ego from childhood on up.
getting rid of ego is contrary to the forgiving ourselves for possessing ego. if the ego is considered a fear-based thought system, we can see how forgiving ourselves would introduce a preparatory stage to be able to feel love, instead of fear. as fear and love are not compatible in the same head space.

the chicken or egg idea, the way I see it, what was created was created by a creator. so did god lay eggs here? 

perhaps! what I meant to say before I distracted myself is Bruce's curiosity story explains the separation story rather well, at least as a beginning point, why we find ourselves seemingly separated from our creator, Love.  a desirable item, even if many of us do not see God as Love.
Monroe says much the same. We scouted, we saw, we wanted to be here and had curiosity and desire. we became forgetful once diving in, and now we all start to remember who we really are and that we are not these small, forgotten, bereaved creatures far from home, but rather we are endowed with creative abilities we have forgotten.
we are becoming what we already are.

love, alysia