Ego is the sprout of the seed of the tree ''ahambrahmasmi''

Ego is the sprout of the seed of the tree ''ahambrahmasmi''
it is not negative, it is wrongly understood, hence misinterpreted by all well meaning intellectuals and enlightened persons
ayn rand has said exceptionally rightly that ''human ego is the fountain head of progress'' --nearest right statement
it is full of feelings ,emotions,---its leaves, twigs, tender branches
this plant will grow strong , matures into aham brahmasmi, the tree of universal ego.
it should be protected, tended, attended with all care, respect which it rightly deserves, and allowed to grow
if not ,
if interfered with environ outside or insde, it definitely gets hurt, ruffled, disturbed, harmed , creating unpardonable, obstacles for its natural growth.
meditation helps in expanding to universal ego, on the way healing the wounds scratches, pricks , bruices,  damaged parts.
When individual ego expands to universal ego, iindividual ego merges with it losing itself, becomes totally non existent.
as sadhana matures, one lives only the universal ego life filled with bliss, love, understanding, kindness --in this state he is not vulnerable to any abuse or praise, unaffected, just smiles away any such .
since he finds that he alone is, all is he,  all are his, as if components of his own body, his ownpersonality, and feels the my-ness ,mamatha, with all ---with  every thing / being