{"id":13052,"date":"2019-12-13T17:28:19","date_gmt":"2019-12-13T16:28:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kennethsorensen.dk\/?p=13052"},"modified":"2026-02-12T19:18:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T18:18:31","slug":"what-is-the-difference-between-the-ego-and-the-transpersonal-self","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennethsorensen.dk\/en\/what-is-the-difference-between-the-ego-and-the-transpersonal-self\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the difference between the ego and the Transpersonal Self?"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
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Psychosynthesis uniquely defines the ego as the conscious core of the personality, a center of pure self-awareness and will; the ego is also referred to as the conscious \u201cI\u201d, the personal self or the observer. We discover this conscious core when we disidentify from our thoughts, emotions and sensations, and identify with consciousness itself. In my article <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>What is the Conscious \u201cI\u201d?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/em> I go into depth regarding the ego’s essential nature.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In this article, I would like to reflect on the difference between the conscious \u201cI\u201d, or ego, and the Transpersonal Self \u2013 I have defined the Transpersonal Self elsewhere in my article <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>The Transcendence of the Transpersonal Self<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em> <\/a> , so this article will focus only on differences between the ego and Transpersonal Self.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

We know that the conscious “I” is a projection, or reflection, in the personality of the Transpersonal Self’s pure self-awareness and will, so we can say there are not two selves, but rather a pure self-awareness that manifests on different levels. We might say that the \u201cI\u201d is an outpost of the Transpersonal Self in the mental field of the personality (see my article <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>The Connection Between Ego and the Transpersonal Self<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/a> ).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Roberto Assagioli discussed the difference between the ego and the Transpersonal Self in an <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>illuminating dialogue<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> with psychosynthesis pioneer Martha Crampton. In answer to Martha’s question <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong> How would you distinguish the ego from the Spiritual self?\u201d, here is Assagioli’s reply (note: his terms \u201cspiritual Self\u201d and \u201cSelf\u201d refer to the Transpersonal Self):<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

“There is a great difference; the personal self or I is ‘self-centred’, it is the awareness of oneself without any expansion of consciousness, without the joy, the love and all the other qualities of the spiritual Self. The personal self could be called ‘neutral’, but the awareness of it gives a certain sense of freedom from the ordinary attachments and identifications. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>

“The difference is also one of level, as is clearly shown in my diagram of the psychological constitution of the human being. But difference does not mean separation. The personal self can be considered a reflection or projection of the Spiritual Self. Between them communication is possible and the personal self can ascend towards the Self, get close to It and at moments identify itself with It. This relationship has various stages. The first is that of disidentification and objective observation of the flow of psychological elements which come and go within the field of consciousness, just as a scientist observes natural phenomena…<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n