What is the Purpose of the Ego?
The other day, someone asked me, ‘What is the purpose of the ego?’ At the time, I gave my standard explanation, about how the ego is the center of our attachments, the home of resistance and identity. I explained that duality resides in the ego, and that all emotions rise from challenging the ego and its power. To read the full explanation, check out this post. But after the conversation ended, I felt frustrated. The explanation I gave didn’t satisfy me, or even the person I was talking to. As I cleaned up the kitchen, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to the ego than I originally defined, and if there was a greater purpose than what I could see. Cut to me scavenging the internet, looking at various descriptions of what the ego is and why it exists. This quote…