Why 'Transcendence' Doesn't Mean 'Destruction'
In many spiritual traditions, a central goal is to move beyond the limitations of the ego. But what does that actually mean? Does enlightenment require us to transcend the ego, or to completely dissolve it?
Reflecting on the work of philosophers like Hubert Benoit, I've come to a more nuanced understanding. While many frameworks agree that the ego is something we want to move beyond, the goal isn't to get rid of it.
The Ego's Role: A Limited Point of View
Across many traditions, the ego's role in our development is closely related to our identification with the physical body. The ego determines our "symbolic mode of knowing" —it's the part of us that creates our individual identity, our sense of "me" that feels separate from the world.
While this is a necessary part of being human, this limited viewpoint also "obscures our supreme identity which pure organismic consciousness would otherwise reveal". In other words, our intense focus on our separate self can make us forget that we are part of a much larger whole.
The Goal is Expansion, Not Elimination
This is where the idea of "transcending the ego" comes in, and it's where the misunderstanding often lies. The goal is not to dissolve or destroy the ego.
Instead, as Benoit explains, it's about reaching a level of awareness where you discover your identity with all phenomenal manifestation. You don't eliminate your individual self; you expand your sense of self to include everything else. Your awareness grows so large that the ego is no longer the center of your universe, but simply one part of a vast, interconnected reality that you now identify with.
The Wisdom of Yin and Yang
Personally, this point of view resonates deeply with me because it's not about choosing one thing over another—spirit over ego, or the universal over the individual. It reminds me of the yin and yang. Both sides, the light and the dark, are equally necessary to create a complete and balanced whole.
The spiritual journey isn't about destroying a part of yourself. It's about growing your awareness to be inclusive enough to hold both your individual identity and your universal one at the same time.
References
Wilber, K. (1993). The Spectrum of Consciousness. Quest Books: Theosophical Publishing House.
