Restless in Carlsbad

ANSWER: First, let me point out that this is a loaded question, or more accurately, a statement masquerading as a question.

Another example of such a question is, "How did the separation occur?"  This is really not a question.  It is a statement of current belief in the form of a question intended to reinforce current belief.  Because the separation never occurred, the question is irrelevant and renders it impossible to answer.

There are three built-in erroneous assumptions in the originally stated question: a) that the ego at one time actually is, or was, real and actually existed, b) that we actually die, and c) that you have an individual or personal, ego. 

Before I attempt to answer what I believe to be the intended question, let us work backwards through the erroneous assumptions (premises) that render the question impossible to answer.

Let's start with the idea of a personal or individual ego.   Our commonly held concept of a personal ego is purely a Freudian idea, and most Course students already recognize that the Course uses a completely different explanation of the ego.  In the Course version from the Foundation for Inner Peace, there is only one reference in the Course that refers to "my ego" ...it is contained in workbook lesson 82 which is a review of lesson 64.  There is also only one reference to "your ego" in workbook lesson 38. edition search

In contrast, there are 116 references to "the ego" in the text, 5 in the workbook, and 6 in the clarification of terms. 

However, in the Course in Miracles Society [CIMS] edition, the count is significantly different.  "Your ego" has 44 references. "My ego" has 1 reference, and "the ego" has 153.  Naturally this triggered  inquiry into why each reference is used...'the ego', 'my ego' and 'your ego', and their implications. edition search

Here are some key phrases from the CIMS edition that seem to support the conclusion I will present below.

"The essential thing to remember is that the ego does not recognize the real source of its perceived threat, and if you associate yourself with the ego, you do not perceive the whole situation as it is. Only your allegiance to it gives the ego any power over you."

"We have spoken of the ego as if it were a separate thing acting on its own. This was necessary to persuade you that you cannot dismiss it lightly and must realize how much of your thinking is ego-directed."

"The ego is nothing more than a part of your belief about yourselves."

"The ratio of repression and dissociation varies with the individual ego-illusion..."

"The rewards of God, however, are immediately recognized as eternal. Since this recognition is made by you and not the ego, the recognition itself establishes that you and your ego cannot be identical. You may believe that you have already accepted the difference, but you are by no means convinced as yet. The very fact that you are preoccupied with the idea of escaping from the ego shows this.

"You cannot escape from the ego by humbling it or controlling it or punishing it. Remember that the ego and the Soul do not know each other. The separated mind cannot maintain the separation except by dissociating. Having done this, it utilizes repression against all truly natural impulses, not because the ego is a separate thing, but because you want to believe that you are. The ego is a device for maintaining this belief, but it is still only your willingness to use the device that enables it to endure."

After careful study, I do not under any circumstances accept this as a contradiction in statement. I believe that these passages clearly demonstrate that there are no separate egos.   The idea of my or your ego is erroneous, but these phrases are used by the Holy Spirit to demonstrate our belief, or temporary acceptance, of separate egos.

Now, let's visit that silly 'death' idea.   The Course states clearly, irrevocably, and unambiguously that "There is no death".   That does not mean that we do not go through what we commonly refer to as 'a death experience'.   What we are observing is 'the apparent end of animation' of the body.  The Course, in the midst of a dissertation on anger says, "There is little doubt that one body can assault another, and can even destroy it. Yet if destruction itself is impossible, anything that is destructible cannot be real".  We are, indeed, seeing the apparent end of the animation of the body, which WE have defined as death. What is actually occurring at that 'moment' is a transition in our experience of existence; from the mortal, and limited, to the immortal, infinite, and limitless.  We will tie this idea in again later in the article.  Further consider this from the Manual for Teachers".

"Teacher of God, your one assignment could be stated thus: accept no compromise in which death plays a part. Do not believe in cruelty nor let attack conceal the truth from you. What seems to die has but been misperceived and carried to illusion. Now it becomes your task to let the illusion be brought to the truth. Be steadfast but in this; be not deceived by the "reality" of any changing form. Truth neither moves nor wavers nor sinks down to death and dissolution. And what is the end of death? Nothing but this: the realization that the Son of God is guiltless now and forever. Nothing but this. But do not let yourself forget it is not less than this."

I am going to reiterate two ideas that are critical to.....