Ego Metabolism
Since the Personal Essence is the true individuality, it is closely
related to the capacities of primary autonomy, which are usually
referred to as the ego functions. We have seen that the development
and integration of these capacities is intertwined with the development
of object relations. Thus we might wonder what happens to these
capacities when the object relations are finally metabolized.
The answer is that they finally come into their own. They become
more developed, more integrated and more synthesized into a harmonious
whole, not dependent on a mental structure. Their true origin,
the extent of their functions and their real meaning become clear.
In general, the presence of the Personal Essence brings about
a radical expansion and individuation of autonomous functioning,
indicating the greater development and integration of the apparatuses
of autonomy. (The Pearl Beyond Price, pg 169)
Ego, Metabolism and Being
This interdependence between ego and Being can also be seen in
the process of inner metabolism. Ego on its own cannot complete
the metabolism of experience and hence cannot bring about complete
human development; Being is needed for this process to take place.
On the other hand, Being cannot accomplish on its own the whole
process of metabolism; it cannot dislodge ego when ego is defensive.
From the perspective of the mind, Being can be resisted easily
with a slight movement of ego; thus ego must first cooperate by
relinquishing its defensive posture. It is up to ego to cease
resisting. When it ceases its defensive posture completely, then
Being acts. (The Pearl Beyond Price, pg 167)
Ego and absorption
We see, however, that not only for the schizoid character, but
for every ego, there is a deep fear of being completely devoured
and absorbed. This is not due only to difficult early object relations,
as in the etiology of the schizoid character, but due to the vulnerability
of primitive ego structures in the face of Being. This must be
the case at the time in ego development when internalization is
a just beginning to be set up (The Pearl Beyond Price, pg 452)
Truth of ego
We will show that the ego, with its sense of self and personality,
has a truth hidden within its nature, a truth that is not necessarily
visible from the transcendent and impersonal state. We will show
that the ego is a reflection of a truth, an attempt to imitate
an absolute and eternal reality. In fact, we will explore how
ego is nothing but a failed or aborted attempt at a real development.
We will show that ego is a reflection, an imperfect one indeed,
but still a reflection of true reality, the reality of the true
human being. (The Pearl Beyond Price, pg 16)
Ego and perception
The fact that ego cannot make real contact is lamentable, and
indicates a terrible waste of human potential. We cannot see each
other when we are identifying with self-images from the past.
We are strangers to each other, merely relating to the projected
images, two parts of our own minds. This is the normal, everyday
life of most of us, not only the emotionally disturbed. (The Pearl
Beyond Price, pg 81)
Ego and spiritual realization
Our view also shows that what the spiritual teachings call the
main barrier to spiritual realization -- the ego, or what some
traditions simply call the self -- is nothing but the self-representation,
and not the system ego, per se, or the actual self. (The Point
of Existence, pg 507)
