What is the ego? It is generally defined as one's individual self-identity-yet that is only the ego's result, or effect. What then is the ego's cause? Many might say: "the seed of my ego-identity was just given to me, bestowed by God or nature, and not by my consent." That answer, however, is wrong according to A Course In Miracles, which exposes the ego and its deeds in profound detail unlike any other work. It paints a portrait of the ego as far more vast, powerful, intricate and malefic than anything that we as person-bodies could ever possibly imagine. In one paragraph per each of its seventy-five sections, this book explains the Course's fundamental principles of what the ego is and how to look upon its dark sorcery that its ruse be recognised. Here is seen the ego's motives and madness, its desires and defenses, its chaos and its clandestine affairs; now can one correctly interpret its voices of deceit wherein the world of fear holds sway over the wish for Peace. This book also includes, more briefly, the Course's account of what one's true Reality Is, and how one relinquishes the ego to reclaim it. excerpt:
The attraction of guilt
Because whatever perceived as separate and outside of mind can be none other than one's own guilt, all 'outside' that one is enamored with thus represents one's own attraction to this guilt: 'I want my guilt that I sever myself from my Creator, and I want to see your guilt that I may yet proclaim my innocence'; and, if one desires guilt then punishment and fear are also wished for; these wishes, of course, are mostly unconscious, nevertheless they defend and strengthen one's ego whose choice for specialness IS conscious: "The continuing decision to remain separated is the only possible reason for continuing guilt feelings"; and: "This willingness means that you do not want to be healed." T 19 IV A i 10.1 T 5 V 8.1 T 5 VII 3.6