Understanding the Ego facilitates the process of transcending it. Understanding reveals that what is called "ego" is just a label for the animal inheritance of being a human; the core basic movement towards something (get) and movement away from something (avoid). Looking at the first cellular like, it can be seen that this was required as animal life didn't have its own source of energy (unlike plant life which can just sit still and photosynthesise) and life evolved all sorts of clever mechanisms to get and avoid. I see my understanding of ego as quite rudimentary and recommend the work of Dr David R Hawkins for a much clearer and more expert understanding. This is a great lecture to start with: "The Egos Foundations"
