Understanding the Ego and the Self

The etymology of the word ego is simply “I” in Latin. It was used by Latin speakers in the very same way that we use the first person singular nominative case personal pronoun in modern English, which is “I”.

In present day, we use the word “ego” to make a specific distinction; for example when we wish to address an inflated sense of self-worth, but also to refer to our identity that we have built around ourselves.

But what, actually is the “ego”, and what is its relationship with what we call “self”? Understanding the Ego and the Self

“The ego represents what may be called reason and common sense, in contrast to the id, which contains the passions.” ~ Sigmund Freud 

understanding the ego

We can say that the ego is fundamentally a construct. It is made of parts just like a building is made up of concrete and, our ego is made up of our dreams and fears, aspirations, memories and so on. Let’s take a quick look into what the traditions of the West and East say on the subject.

For Freud, the Ego is part of a psyche’s apparatus that mediates between our basic human instincts (ID) and the moral that is socially upheld as desirable (Super Ego – The super ego is the aspect of personality that holds all of our internalized moral standards and ideals that we acquire from both parents and society – our sense of right and wrong.)

The latter two elements of our psyche are in mutual contradiction and it is the job of the Ego to ‘unify’ these contradictory aspects. The result of this synthesis is something that is –apparently– stable and coherent, even though it is under a lot of pressure and always under construction.

The iceberg metaphor is usually employed to exemplify the mechanics and visibility of these forces: the Ego is the tip, the visible part, which is only there because it’s supported by another deeper and less accessible mass of ice.

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Buddhism Understanding of the Ego

According to the Buddhists, nothing possesses an underlying reality. One of the most common (and normal) aberrations of our mind is to think in terms of identities. The concept of Anatta or no-self is very clear on this: there is nothing that has a substance, they are all aggregates. The same happens with our ego: it is illusory to think that it exists. The Story of Nagasena and the Chariot is often told to explain this further:

quote on ego

In this story, a king named Milinda asked a Buddhist wise man called Nagasena to explain the idea of anatta, or ‘no self’. Nagasena points to the king’s chariot. The king agrees that the axel is not the chariot, and nor are the wheels, frame, or harness. What the king thinks of as a ‘chariot’ is made of several different objects. There is no chariot above and beyond this combination. Likewise, the ‘self’ is made up of several separate and changing elements, and there is no single entity called a ‘self’.

The same is valid for the ego: there is no such thing. What we are is a constant flow of sensations and thoughts and to identify ourselves with any of these is to create an attachment to an illusion which ultimately leads to suffering.

There are equivalent thoughts in Western philosophy by thinkers such as John Locke, Heraclitus, and David Hume which can be likened to the ‘bundle theory of the self’ and to the Theseus Ship Paradox which is just different ways of putting what the Buddhists are saying.

Hinduism Understanding of the Ego

For Hinduism on the other hand, there is such thing as a Self and it is called Atman. It is what we find when we peel away all the illusory layers of the mind (where the Ego lies). It is equal to that of the impersonal Absolute (Brahman) – like a spark of the sun (they are both fire). Again, there is an emphasis on self-knowledge, for it is through it that we can pierce the veil of illusion and see our true nature.

“knowing others is wisdom. Knowing the self is enlightenment”. ~ Lao Tzu

Many traditions highly value this kind of knowledge and see it as a pathway to happiness. It is essential to remain aware of our Ego, recognizing that it is a construct that can be redefined and molded according to our desires. If possessing an ego is unavoidable, we should strive to shape it to serve our purposes, viewing it as a tool rather than allowing it to dominate us.

“[the] ego is a social institution with no physical reality. The ego is simply your symbol of yourself. Just as the word “water” is a noise that symbolizes a certain liquid without being it, so too the idea of ego symbolizes the role you play, who you are, but it is not the same as your living organism.” ~ Alan Watts

In the video below Alan Watts delves deeper into Understanding the Ego and the illusion of it all –

Understanding Your Ego - Alan Watts

Understanding this concept and remaining receptive to the evolution of our self-perception can bring dynamism and growth within our existence: It is beneficial to not take oneself too seriously, as a rigid identification with the Self can lead to stagnation. On the other hand, engaging in self-discovery and laughing at oneself facilitate the journey toward self-realization.

Watts explained, “…man’s un-happiness is rooted in the feeling of anxiety which attends his sense of being an isolated individual or ego, separate from “life” or “reality” as a whole. On the other hand, happiness – a sense of harmony, completion, and wholeness – comes with the realization that the feeling of isolation is an illusion”

You can complement with the 4 signs that your Ego is dissolving, or has spirituality become a part of your ego, or perhaps, practice presence and mindfulness to detach from the ego and its pettiness.

Resources:

Is Your Ego Your Servant or Your Master?

Understanding the Ego

Articles on

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Fractal Enlightenment was conceptualized in 2006 by Bhavika and Clyde, and since then, it has evolved along with us. Today we focus on Self-Awareness to help and support each one become a better version of themselves and in doing so, we hope to send ripples out to help shine some light in our world.

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Juan Pablo Hern
Juan Pablo Hern
To breathe music, think in motion, walk among friends, improve our times, learn from nature, keep the awe, philosophize now and then and to live love and love life.

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