Deepak Chopra Instagram – #AskDeepak My response: It may seem like we need an ego to be alive in this body and to experience and work in the world, but that’s not the case. Open, transparent awareness is our natural state, our true self, and it is designed to function effectively and harmoniously in the complex and demanding world. Our true self actually functions more effectively than the ego, because it operates without fear, without resistance, and without a sense of lack. To make this state of consciousness a practical living experience, you must first establish the experiential understanding that your essential nature is not defined or limited by your body or mind and that you are unlimited and ever-present. Then you must take this awareness and infuse it into your experience of the body, your mind, and the world in general. This part continues indefinitely as there is a lot of world to colonize with one’s consciousness. It involves stripping away all your mental preconceptions you have about perception, conception, and selfhood and reconstructing your reality based on your core experience of your consciousness. Meditation is a powerful tool in this journey, especially the first stage, but the secondary part of the journey requires a more specific kind of guidance. I think you may benefit from Rupert Spira’s teachings. You may want to check out some of his material on YouTube first to get a sense of it. Love, Deepak