A spiritual identity is difficult to get rid of
‘Trungpa Rinpoche said that the ego wanting to experience enlightenment is like “wanting to witness your own funeral.” Yet try to convince the ego of this! The ego is not only present for the experience itself, but the moment this essential experience fades, ego is all that is left. The implicit realization and recognition of something Other and Beyond, which is true of the experience, is no longer present as a realization. The only thing left is ego, which proudly steps forth to take credit for the experience.’
Marianna Caplan, ‘Halfway up the Mountain. The error of premature claims to enlightenment.’