I cannot understand meaning of the word ego.
One website describes it as -
The context in which I am asking is partly Dhammic (though not exactly Buddha Dharma at all times but mixed with Hinduism, New Age, Eckhart Tolle, Sadhguru ... so on)the “I” or self of any person; a person as thinking, feeling, and willing, and distinguishing itself from the selves of others and from objects of its thought.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/ego
Example .. if I am feeling angry because something is not happening as I wanted it to .. the answer is (a typical answer picked at random from Google search results)
My query is if I make up my mind to wake up at 5 AM and meditate, to refuse alcohol, to refuse meat, .. why is that not ego? I could as well say I give up my ego .. and I surrender and drink as much as I want ..Your ego loves to control things, and to make things happen, to have an alleged secure environment. In trying to control this connection, all you do is wasting a lot of energy for nothing. This energy can be much better redirected into other areas in your life, as for example your own health and transformation, and acts of kindness with people around you. All you can do is trust, relax and be patient and surrender to this process.
The only thing you can “control” and work on in this process are your own activities, emotions and attitudes. So focus on your own stuff and your own lessons. Don’t resist or fight against anything that is happening to you. Accept it, look at it without judging it or identifying with it and let it pass through you. Tell yourself that these moments will pass and that this is only your ego struggling, not your true self. You will notice after a while that these moments get less and that you learn to love yourself and that you start to feel more and more unconditional love for yourself and everything around you.
Even wanting to be liberated .. or taking few steps in that direction .. browsing DW, listening to Dhamma Talks .. is that not ego too?
Why is the ego always identified with something bad .. and not good .. why is Salvador Dali an egotist but not Mother Teresa (imperfect analogy but I am sort of at a loss for words) .. didn't both of them act from ego?
Can anyone explain the meaning of ego? I am unable to understand one of the most basic terms of Dhamma/Dharma.
Note to mods - I am unsure if this is the right place to put this question but ego or self with small s has a place in Dhammic progress too. Lounge is closed so I did not know where to place this question.
It seems that all of my current problems can be traced back to my ego (it appears I have a lot of it). What is it and how does one get rid of it?