Constant self abnegation, perception of oneself as if from outside and from many perspectives, is necessary in order to avoid the ravaging effects of hubris (being too full of oneself and one’s abilities).
Moments of great clarity, with respect to specifics or to the matrix of life, can be mistaken as personal triumphs. This is rather the natural course of life, where each creature constantly matures in its ability to adapt to ever changing circumstances.
Ego can be conceived of as a marvelous sphere of luminous and coordinating intelligence which hovers within the immensity of “self”. This larger “containing” self can be pictured as an octagonal edifice with a transparent structure and walls, situated by a path leading up a hill, and within which ego can function. Now, consider that the “floor” of this edifice is the reflective water surface of an endlessly deep pool. Ego, hovering in the space above this pool, is reflected in the pool and any movement within the field of “self” causes ripples in the pool, affecting this reflected image.
Hypnosis is a good example of how ego consciousness, meaning the entire field of perception and thought in our daily existence, which leads us to consider ourselves as unique and separate beings, is actually a field, in the sense that we can only be aware of a part of it at any given moment. Because of this, in hypnosis or in situations of subtle manipulation of any conversation, our frame of reference and that of which we are conscious can be narrowed down or shifted to almost any imaginable context. This is quickly verified by noticing how an interesting exchange of ideas or sharing of experiences with someone can eliminate completely any awareness of traffic noises, surrounding conversations, electric motor sounds of refrigerators and so on.