Question: “Could you please explain the Buddhist concept of getting rid of Ego (which I understand to be our sense-of-self)? And also, I don’t understand how it would be beneficial for people to get rid of that. It seems that without the ego, anything that makes us unique is dissolved. A well-developed sense of identity is considered a healthy part of development in modern psychology, so how would Buddhism address that position? Thank you! Peace to you, brother”
There’s a difference between ego and personality. Personality is what makes who we are: our likes and dislikes, our humor and boringness, our identity. Our ego is our wants, needs and desires. Neither of the two are the real us. We are not our personality and ego, we think we are because it controls us – it tells us what we want to eat, wear, say, do and go.
The personality is a temporary phenomena that we cling to because it’s what we and others know our identity to be. But once we become more aware of our trueness, of our aliveness, without the mask of our name and body, then we can see what we truly are.
Even modern psychology will say that our personality and ego has been created and dependent on our environment and culture. If we grew up and lived in the fanciest of Beverly Hills or Hollywood with all that we’ve ever wanted without a single moment of suffering, would our personality, ego and mentality be the same if we were to grow up and live in Texas on a farm doing farm work? Of course not!
Our personality and ego are temporary, it can change, but our true selves is the real and moves with us from life to life until it reaches enlightenment.
Smile and be well!