Question:

Many trends in psychology work to empower individuality, personal differences, developing one’s singularity and uniqueness, to develop one’s strengths and abilities through willpower. Is that compatible with the idea of transcending the ego? Without ego, what is character or personality reduced to? Is psychology compatible with spirituality?

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Answer:
It is perfectly possible to develop strengths and abilities without identifying with them and without inner dependency on the future outcome of your activity. When you work without ego, there is a flow of energy that is actually extremely enjoyable. When you enjoy the present moment, the future outcome is not of primary importance. Ego induced activities reduce the present moment to a means to an end and are therefore stressful and ultimately frustrating.

As regards psychology, it alone will not get us beyond the dysfunction of the human mind and cannot bring about the profound inner transformation in human beings that is necessary if mankind is to survive. Psychology is helpful, however, in teaching us how to recognize the ego in its many disguises, so that it can no longer deceive us and take us over again and again. What is personality without ego reduced to? The universal dance of forms – fascinating, but ephemeral - as fleeting as a cloud.