Just see the ego vanish into thin air

Reality is simply the loss of ego. Destroy the ego by seeking its identity. Because the ego is no identity it will automatically vanish and reality will shine by itself.
(Ramana Maharshi)

According to Alan Watts, ‘the ego is simply the focus of conscious attention’.  Yes, the ego is a steering wheel of sorts. It tells a conscious story from the narrow-minded ‘I’ perception, and tries moving us in the direction that somehow makes sense. Never mind the constraints of missing directions, roadblocks and dead-end streets of course. From that perspective, our conscious grasp is just like an iceberg, the visible part can only fathom what lingers below the surface, but hardly anyone ever bothers to look.  Often we try telling a conscious story that is merely a misunderstood interpretation of our deep-seated drives.

Some say the ego is a malignant force that deserves careful attention. Perhaps. Perhaps the ego is just a deluded identity that needs to be shown the light. Whatever it is, mindfulness is the way to succeed. Be willing to revise your story line often. It is just that, an ego perspective. Be mindful of your surroundings and differentiate the signs our ego wants to see from reality as is. Be mindful of your thoughts and your feelings. Don’t just jump to half-hearted conclusions that seem consistent with the story you are telling about yourself but stand ready to recognize the workings of the ego. Keep questioning this story teller. Who knows. Perhaps the ego will vanish into thin air one day.