The animal lives in the world of form. The basic elements of survival are body, food, and the ability to discern enemies. The animal brain evolves, therefore to facilitate perception. As we look beyond the content of the ego, we come to quality of critical importance to the seeker of enlightenment — its basic function of perception. This is of great use to the animal but it results in the creation of duality in the filed of consciousness in which location, direction and timing arise because they are necessary for the survival o the animal. Eg. to catch a prey, it is necessary to form a dualistic perception of a 'here' vs a 'there'. The limitation of form results in the reliance on the senses. Thus arises the concepts of space and idstance, and the ego conludes that this perception signifies reality.
Man evolved beyond and the ego learned the manipulation of images in the form of thought. These images became sophisticated and allowed for the discernment of how things are alike well as how they were different. (eg. the classic left vs right brain analogy or digital vs analog computer.
The forebrain enlarged to handle the now complex thinking in abstract concepts, symbols and language. This was an 'add-on' to the old animal brain. Thus the new brain had the advantage and disadvantage of the old and new, without a disconnect switch between the two regions; thus the animal emotions could flood the intellect with fear anger, greed, etc. The intellect would also manufacture sequences of images associated with the animal drives.
Therefore, the structure of the ego and not just its content is the major impediment to spiritual advancement.
However, spiritual progress is possible cos the mind, thru understanding, is able to recontextualize the contents of the ego and discern its very mechanism. Once this occurs, one is no longer blindly 'at the mercy' of the ego.
taken from I, Hawkins, p118
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