Ego vs. Soul

by

Austin Perris

The ego and the soul are not enemies; however, they operate from entirely different paradigms. The ego is rooted in fear, survival, and a sense of identity. What the ego wants is what the ego needs, and the end of those wants and needs is what the ego fears, especially the end of physical existence. 

To control, label, compare, and separate are the functions of the ego. The soul, by contrast, is rooted in love, trust, and unity. It sees beyond the veil of duality into the oneness that binds all of creation. Longing to return to the spiritual, the soul strives to return to all that is.

In the modern world, ego is often mistaken for strength. We are taught to define ourselves through achievements, possessions, opinions, and status. The amount of money we have, our social position, and how others perceive us are the ego's primary concerns. Yet, these are fragile constructs, subject to change at any given moment. 

When life challenges them, as it inevitably does, we suffer. The feeling of loss is great, most times overwhelming. The soul invites us to go deeper, to remember that we are more than the roles we play. We are not the body or its position in life. Nothing in life is permanent; only change is to be expected.

Dissolving the ego does not mean eliminating your personality. It means loosening the grip of illusion. It means choosing love over fear, presence over projection, and compassion over competition. In our spiritual practice, we learn to distance ourselves from the ego. 

Detachment is learning to observe our thoughts, emotions, and experiences without clinging to them or identifying with them, realizing that these are merely passing experiences, not truly part of our real selves.

The ego wants to be right; the soul wants to be whole.

Daily spiritual practice helps you recognize when the ego is taking control. Notice when you're triggered, defensive, or craving approval. 

These are signs that the ego is leading. Pause. Breathe. Ask: what does my soul see in this moment? This simple inquiry can shift everything.

Meditation allows us to be free from the nagging needs, wants, and desires. In the deep meditative state, samadhi, these things do not exist. Upon returning to our physical state of being, we feel the pull of our wants and desires, but we feel stronger and more equipped to resist their seduction.

Self-inquiry practices, such as the "Who am I?" meditation, help expose the illusion of the ego. When you sit in stillness and let go of thought identification, a spacious awareness emerges. That space is your soul; it is eternal, untouched, and deeply peaceful.

Living from the soul doesn't mean you lose your boundaries or goals. It means you act from alignment rather than reaction. It means you choose empathy, speak truth with love, and move through the world as a presence rather than a persona.

The journey from ego to soul is an ongoing process. It requires humility, surrender, and courage. It is an ongoing battle between our physical self and our spiritual self. 

But when the battle is won, the reward is profound inner freedom. You no longer feel the need to defend, compete, or prove. You rest in your true being, that part of you that is connected to all that is.

As you dissolve the illusion of separation, you begin to see the Divine in everything, in yourself, in others, and even in challenge. This is unity consciousness. It is the state of grace where the soul leads, and the ego serves.

For the video, "Ego and Soul, click here