Spiritual Ego Explained: Pride, Belief, and Illusion

By Tchiki Davis, M.A., Ph.D.
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On the path of awakening, it is common to encounter moments of clarity, peace, or insight that feel deeply transformative. Yet even these breakthroughs can become traps when the mind grasps at them as special, unique, or “mine.” This is the paradox of the spiritual ego: the subtle tendency to turn spiritual understanding into another identity, another layer of self-importance, or even another reason for self-criticism.

Spiritual ego is not just about arrogance or superiority. It is about identification itself—the belief that anything we think, feel, or experience makes us a permanent self. By exploring how spiritual ego forms and recognizing its many disguises, we begin to see that awakening has nothing to do with comparison or hierarchy. In truth, there is no separation, and thus no “better” or “worse.” Awakening is simply the recognition that what we seek is already here.

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What Is Spiritual Ego?

At its core, spiritual ego arises when we identify with concepts, beliefs, or experiences related to spirituality. Ego is not a thing in itself but a process of identification—the mental clinging to specific experiences and the labelling them as "me" or "mine". When this identification takes hold in a spiritual context, it creates what we call spiritual ego. And it's one of the most obnoxious types of ego that exists.

For example, someone might believe that their practice, lineage, or insight makes them more advanced, talented, or spiritual than others. Another person might cling to the opposite view, feeling inferior, unworthy, or “less than.” Both directions—feeling superior or inferior—are rooted in the same dynamic: the belief in a separate self that can be compared at all.

The spiritual ego can be easy to spot in obvious cases of pride, like boasting about mystical experiences or years of meditation. But it is much harder to notice when it manifests in subtle ways, such as identifying with spacious awareness, the “I Am” sense, or even with the label “awakened being.” All of these involve holding onto something as the right, true, or ultimate perspective.

Spiritual Ego and the Trap of “Right” vs "Wrong"

Spiritual ego takes shape whenever we grasp at anything as the “right” way. If we think there is one true belief system, one authentic technique, or one legitimate authority, the mind has already reasserted its claim of ownership. Even believing we have transcended ego is just another mask of ego (because it implies a self).

This identification is not limited to teachings or practices. It also appears in the realm of experience. If someone feels bliss, spaciousness, or profound silence and then clings to it as special, the ego is active. The experience itself is not the problem—it is the sense of “me” who owns it, who experiences it, or who claims to have found something others have not.

The nondual view challenges this directly by pointing out that there is no ultimate perspective or final truth to grasp. Everything we perceive—including time, space, and even awareness—is a mental construct, a way of organizing experience. Nothing is truly separate, permanent, or definable. In this sense, enlightenment is not an achievement but the recognition that enlightenment already includes everything, without exception.

Subtle Forms of Spiritual Ego

One of the most confusing aspects of spiritual ego is that it can appear even in deep into the awakening journey. Here are a few subtle forms that awakeners often overlook:

Identifying as awareness itself. Saying “I am spacious awareness” may seem advanced, but it still sets up a duality between the observer and what is observed.
Clinging to the “I Am” sense. Even the bare sense of existence can become a subtle identity if we hold onto it as ultimate.
Believing one is awakened. The idea of “I am enlightened” is still a thought, still a position. True awakening leaves no one behind to claim it.
Defining oneself by practice. Whether through meditation, yoga, chanting, or devotion, ego arises when we believe these activities make us someone special.
Comparing experiences. Thinking that mystical visions, siddhis (powers), or deep insights are more important than ordinary experience creates hierarchy and separation.

These forms of ego are subtle because they hide behind spiritual language and experiences that seem to transcend the ordinary. But no matter how refined, they are still forms of clinging.

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Better, Worse, or Equal? All Ego

A common misunderstanding is that ego only shows up when we believe we are superior. In truth, believing we are inferior is equally an expression of ego. Whether we think “I am better than you” or “I am worse than you,” the structure is the same: the mind is identifying with an image of self in comparison to others.

Ego thrives on contrast. It survives by creating a measuring stick of more or less, higher or lower, worthy or unworthy. But in the reality of nonduality, there is no separation to compare. Who could be better or worse when everything is already part of the same whole? Even the thought “I am just ordinary” can be another form of ego if it is used to define oneself.

True freedom comes when we see through the entire game of comparison. Enlightenment is not about being more spiritual, more aware, or more advanced. It is about realizing that there is no one to measure and nothing to measure against. It's realizing that everything already is what is it is and could be no different.

Common Examples of Spiritual Ego

To make this more concrete, here are some of the ways spiritual ego often shows up in thought and behavior:

“I know more about spirituality than others.”
“I am more spiritual because I meditate every day.”
“I practice yoga, eat clean, and live mindfully—so I am more evolved.”
“I have psychic powers or healing abilities, which makes me special.”
“I studied with a famous guru, so my path is more authentic.”
“I’ve spent 20 years in Buddhism, so I must be further along than beginners.”
“I had a powerful awakening experience, which means I’m enlightened.”
“I can access states of bliss or silence others cannot.”
“I’ve read more spiritual books, attended more retreats, or done more practices than others.”
“I am closer to the truth because of my insights.”

On the flip side, spiritual ego also appears in thoughts like:

“I am not as spiritual as those who meditate more.”
“I’ll never be as advanced as those with special experiences.”
“My path is inferior because I haven’t found a guru.”
“I must not be worthy of awakening.”

Both sides reveal the same illusion: a self-image measured against others.

Seeing Through Spiritual Ego

How do we begin to see through spiritual ego? The key is to recognize that any identification—no matter how subtle—is just another mental process. When the mind says, “I am this” or “I am not that,” notice the movement of thought trying to creating an identity.

Awakening is not about destroying ego or transcending it once and for all. Rather, it is about seeing ego as empty, unreal, and unnecessary. The more we notice identification in real time, the more we loosen its grip.

Instead of clinging to experiences, we can allow them to arise and pass like everything else. Instead of believing in a hierarchy of better and worse, we can rest in the recognition that all expressions—ordinary or extraordinary—are part of the same reality.

Even the desire to be free of ego can be another form of ego. True freedom is not about becoming someone without ego but about realizing that the self was never real to begin with.

Living Without Comparison

When we see through spiritual ego, life becomes simpler. There is no need to prove, defend, or compare. Meditation, yoga, or prayer can still be practiced, but not as badges of identity—just as natural expressions of life unfolding.

Without the weight of comparison, relationships change. We no longer need to convince others, impress them with our insights, or judge their path as less valid. We see that every experience is a unique window into the same reality.

This does not mean passivity or indifference. Instead, it is a recognition that love, compassion, and clarity flow more freely when we are not bound by ego’s measuring stick. When there is no “me” to protect, what remains is openness, curiosity, and acceptance.

Managing Someone Else’s Spiritual Ego

Spiritual ego doesn’t exist only within ourselves; we are bound to encounter it in others as well. Whether in teachers, peers, or online communities, dealing with someone else’s spiritual ego can be challenging. The first step is recognizing that their ego is a reflection of their own identification and not a personal attack.

It is tempting to correct, argue, or compete with someone who is displaying spiritual ego. However, responding with judgment or defensiveness usually fuels the dynamic rather than dissolves it. Instead, the most effective approach is compassionate observation. By witnessing their words or behaviors without internalizing them, you maintain your own clarity and freedom.

Another strategy is to set healthy boundaries. Spiritual ego often seeks validation or recognition, so it’s helpful to gently disengage when the conversation becomes about proving superiority or comparison. This isn’t rejection; it’s simply refusing to participate in the ego-driven dynamic.

In practical terms, this might look like: listening without reinforcing their sense of self-importance, avoiding debates about who is “more advanced,” or redirecting conversations toward shared experiences rather than hierarchies of spiritual achievement. Encouraging humility and curiosity, rather than claiming authority, is usually more effective than confrontation.

Finally, remember that everyone is on their own path, and ego is a natural stage in human development. Managing someone else’s spiritual ego doesn’t mean fixing them—it means interacting without getting entangled, holding space for their perspective while maintaining your own groundedness.

Final Thoughts on Spiritual Ego

The spiritual ego is one of the most persistent illusions on the path of awakening. It arises whenever we identify with beliefs, practices, or experiences. It hides not only in feelings of superiority but also in feelings of inferiority, both of which rest on the same illusion of separation.

By recognizing spiritual ego in all its forms—from obvious pride to subtle identification with awareness itself—we begin to loosen its hold. Awakening is not about becoming more spiritual, more advanced, or more special—it's not even about learning anything. It is about seeing that enlightenment is already everything, already here, already complete.

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