What's your interpretation of EGO? Why is it usually demonized?

[Panteranegra]

I know Leo has a video about this, but I would like to know about your interpretation.

I have noticed that many people use the word ego in many different ways, and have different interpretations according to the context.

Even gurus, psychologists, mystics, academics, new age teachers seems to use the concept in many different ways.

For example, Ego could be defined as our sense of self, but also as being arrogant "you have too much ego".

What's your understanding?

[AtheisticNonduality]

In spiritual circles it's defined as something to attack because it's easier to tear down something than to actually create something. In psychology It just means the centralized part of your mind that directs things, causing functions and dysfunctions alike. As for the picture, humans dominating animals very well could be egoic, but all parts of the environment being equal to humans, while "deep ecological," isn't exactly reality.

[Nilsi]

In a nutshell the ego is just a subset of infinity that you identify as. Your sense of self can expand to the entire web of life, but that's still ego. 

The demonization part is slightly problematic, but it's done for your own good. The ego is part of what you are and you should nurture and love it and facilitate it's development, just like you would with your child. Ultimately you will have to transcend any attachment and identification, if you want to fully recognize you own infinitude (though you can - and I recommend you do - always come back and work on your development).

Edited August 9, 2022 by Nilsi

[Osaid]

Ego is identity and self-image. Most people maintain their identity and self-image through fear, and that fear causes people to suffer. The ego can use any sort of delusion and suffering to perpetuate its survival. It is possible to undo a lot of these mechanisms in order to turn yourself into a more grounded and selfless person, but it takes time. Most people figure out that 90% of their identity is built on fear and suffering and delusions, and so the demonization begins.

[Breakingthewall]

the ego is energetic patterns made of fear, which, like barriers, give you a definite structure and shape. It doesn't matter what shape it is, it is something that separates you from the divinity that you really are. you can live prisoner of the ego, like almost everyone, but it is fear, stress, tension and isolation. It can be useful to survive, but at what prize do you want to survive? And at the end, the beast turns against you

[RMQualtrough]

The way through which I know it is as the "story of you".

Example: Your name is Michael, you like Doritos and spaceships, a few minutes ago you were listening to hip hop but now you're listening to jazz.

In ego death, the "story of you" goes away, and you are no longer anything other than the present moment.

In other words there's no "story of you" accompanying reality. There's just this moment as it appears now. And no continuous "Michael" character through each either. Actually no "Michael" at all. Literally I have lol'd like "what the FUCK is a *my name*?", because there was definitely no such entity present.

So that was a bit weird...

And then there is dissolution of you, where you no longer have size and the sensory data completely encapsulates where you currently think you are... You don't lose consciousness... But it loses you, if you can imagine what I mean? You're both literally everywhere encompassing all objects of awareness, but also nowhere, not even a "point" or dot...