It might also be worth adding that the Theosophical, or esoteric presentation of `Ego' is one of
evolving Consciousness, and not something static, though it sometimes seems that way in the Human Kingdom.
Before there is the Higher Ego present, the true Individuality, there is still Consciousness, but it is not (self-)reflective. There is also what Theosophists call a `group soul.' Modern science, especially the social sciences, recognize this as
the herd instinct. And it is observable in a flock of birds, where the entire flock behaves
as one. Notice that this is automatic, however, and not at all a CONSCIOUS CHOICE of each, "individual" bird (imagine that - several hundred birds all having to DECIDE whether or not to
turn and move in another direction ... talk about chaos!!!).
We can also see the herd instinct in - herds! In the plains of Africa, or the jungles of the Amazon, animals are (or were) largely undomesticated, and tend to behave according to the unconscious
group soul. But there are several,
domesticating lines, whereby the animal soul (the true, Transcendent, Reincarnating Entity) gradually evolves towards Humanity. We can see these in the cat, dog, elephant, horse and monkey. This evolution occurs both in response to the
magnetic Will of Deity (drawing forth the future Individual Soul
out of the herd, as it were), as well as due to the immediate (or physical) presence & influence of Humanity
upon the animal forms and consciousness.
So, looking backward, so to speak, we can see
our own past within the Animal Kingdom, as the unconscious Group Soul slowly developed towards Individuality, proceeding along the lines of domestication, until eventually a pet dog or cat reached the APEX of Animal Evolution. There are no current opportunities on Earth for animals to enter the Human Kingdom, but in a future cycle the animals which have currently reached the Human stage will
begin their Human evolutionary trek, just as we did upon this planet many millions of years ago (or upon the Moon, long long ages prior).
If we look in the other direction, and consider that Consciousness is actually a
Continuum, we can see that our Soul's awareness is NOT proceeding toward a more & more refined, or developed, sense of "I" - or at least, not in the sense that modern psychology or Buddhists define the word `ego'. Instead, we are moving
away from a sense of "I-ness" (or
Ahamkara, in Sanskrit terms), and TOWARDS a sense of "WE-ness." The reason for this, is that once we enter the Human Kingdom, as all upon Earth have done in long ages past, we DEVELOP the sense of "I-ness" more and more acutely, so that we, most of us, have reached the apotheosis of `
isolated selfhood' in our PAST ... and do not need to pursue this development any further. For some upon Earth, this is not the case, and we can observe this as those who "have not" increasingly take their rightful place (Evolutionarily speaking) as the "haves." They are still
coming into their OWN, as the Divine Plan allows and affords for all.
Where most of us are heading, now that we've allowed the development of the isolated, egotistical (or lower self,
ego-centered) consciousness to reach its fullest ... is toward a relationship with our Higher Ego, or the SOUL on its own plane. In exoteric religious terms, this is often simply spoken of as
Serving God, or seeking God, Uniting with God, allowing God into our lives, etc. The Soul, while not
God in the sense of the Highest, is nevertheless our Intermediary, or the
`Face of God,' as it is referred to in the
Priestly Blessing (Prayer of the Kohanim). It is that portion of the Divine Countenance which shines within the lives of
each one of us, and which draws us, magnetically, back unto the Deity Whom and Which sent us all forth. It does this Lovingly, Intelligently and in perfect accordance with Divine Will. Ours is to learn how to
Cooperate with the Soul (
aka God's Will, literally the
Angel of the Presence), rather than to willfully resist and cause unnecessary struggle and suffering.
The future course, for all of us, is one of gradually increasingly IDENTITY
as the SOUL, which means that we are all slowly learning about our Divine Heritage, as well as our Divine Potential ... and how very natural (if also difficult) it is that we should come to Serve God, rather than to live for the separated self. In truth,
there is no separated self, as this has been a necessary - but only temporary -
identification of Consciousness (the Soul Aspect) with the form. Without this stage, in between that of the animal consciousness (non self-reflective, thus GROUP in the subconscious sense) and the Divine (GROUP in the Conscious, GREATER-SELF-reflective sense), the Plan could not continue. Humanity is a
necessary, a VITAL, and a wonderful, Joyous stage in God's Plan of Evolution, wherein we learn what it means to experience CHOICE, and ultimately to
yield our own desires, even our very will, our Identity, for that of something Higher, and Greater -
the Greatest Good of the Greatest number.
