The Summoning of the Spirit: Awakening Beyond Ego

Introduction

The language of “awakening” has become popular in modern spirituality. It often carries connotations of uniqueness, superiority, or specialness—suggesting that those who awaken are somehow elevated above others. Yet this framing risks reinforcing the very ego structures awakening seeks to dissolve. A deeper understanding reveals awakening not as a badge of distinction but as a summoning: a call from source, from the eternal heart, to return home. This essay explores awakening as summoning, examining the role of ego, the nature of surrender, and the journey of faith, drawing on spiritual traditions, psychology, and lived examples.

1. Awakening and the Ego

The Ego’s Nature

The ego is the structure of identity that thrives on separation, control, and survival. It defines reality through labels and narratives, seeking safety in familiarity. While necessary for navigating daily life, the ego resists the vastness of the heart’s infinite presence. It fears dissolution, clings to suffering, and avoids surrender.

Ego vs. Spirit

Spiritual awakening begins when the ego loosens its grip. As one source notes, “The search for transcendence and spiritual awakening often reveals a surprising foe: the ego. It’s a strong protector of our individuality and separation. Yet, it can block our connection to Universal Intelligence and Love”. Awakening is thus not about inflating the ego with spiritual identity but about recognizing its limits.

2. Awakening as Summoning

The Call to Return Home

Awakening is less about achieving enlightenment and more about hearing a call. The heart summons us back to source, to the Eternal Heart Essence (EHE), which holds the purest vibration of love and divine connection. This summoning is universal, not selective. It is not bestowed as a gift of specialness but arises naturally as part of the soul’s journey.

Examples from Tradition

- Christian Mysticism: St. Augustine’s famous line, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You,” reflects awakening as summoning—a call to return to God.

- Buddhism: The Buddha described awakening as “seeing things as they are,” not as a mark of superiority but as a return to truth.

- Sufism: Rumi’s poetry often frames awakening as a homecoming: “I have come home, where I belong.”

3. The Role of Surrender

Why Surrender Matters

The ego resists surrender because it equates it with loss. Yet surrender is not defeat—it is release. As Laara explains, “True surrender does not mean giving up—it means releasing control and trusting the intelligence of the heart”.

Faith as Bridge

Faith becomes the bridge between ego and spirit. It is the trust that the source we are returning to is love itself. This faith allows us to accept uncertainty, dissolve fear, and embrace peace.

Example: Meditation Practice

In meditation, practitioners often encounter resistance—restlessness, doubt, distraction. The practice is not about conquering these but about surrendering to presence. This surrender reveals the heart’s wisdom beyond ego.

4. Awakening as Journey, Not Destination

Continuous Process

Awakening is not a final state of perfection. It is a journey marked by perceptual shifts, deeper peace, and a desire for authenticity. Signs include feeling connected to all living things, reduced fear of death, and a longing for truth.

Example: Psychological Growth

Psychologist Gerald Daquila notes that the ego plays a crucial role in human consciousness but transforms during awakening. This transformation is gradual, involving integration rather than eradication.

Avoiding Spiritual Ego

One danger is the “spiritual ego”—the belief that awakening makes one superior. This contradicts the essence of summoning, which is universal and humble. Awakening is not about standing out but about returning to wholeness.

5. Awakening in Practice

Everyday Examples

- Grief: Loss often summons us to awaken, stripping away ego’s illusions and revealing deeper truths.

- Nature: Encounters with nature can dissolve ego boundaries, reminding us of our connectedness.

- Service: Acts of compassion summon us into the heart, beyond egoic self-interest.

Case Study: Eckhart Tolle

Eckhart Tolle’s awakening experience, described in The Power of Now, involved a collapse of ego identity. He realized, “I cannot live with myself any longer,” which revealed the separation between ego and true self. His journey illustrates awakening as summoning into presence, not specialness.

6. Awakening Across Cultures

Hinduism

The concept of moksha (liberation) is framed as returning to the source, dissolving ego and realizing unity with Brahman.

Buddhism

Awakening (bodhi) is not about uniqueness but about seeing reality clearly, free from egoic delusion.

Indigenous Traditions

Many indigenous teachings describe awakening as remembering—being summoned back to the wisdom of ancestors and the earth.

7. Challenges on the Path

Ego Resistance

Common resistances include doubt, fear of dissolution, attachment to suffering, and avoidance. Recognizing these patterns helps navigate the journey.

Misinterpretations

Awakening is often misinterpreted as a sign of superiority. This misunderstanding reinforces ego rather than dissolves it.

Integration

The challenge is to integrate awakening into daily life—relationships, work, and community—without falling into spiritual bypassing.

Conclusion: Awakening as Homecoming

Awakening is not a gift of specialness but a summoning. It is the call of the heart to return home, to source, beyond ego. It requires surrender, faith, and humility. It is a journey, not a destination, marked by integration and service. To awaken is to remember: you are not separate, you are not alone, and you are not defined by ego’s illusions. You are being called home.

Sources

- Truly Divine, Spiritual Awakening and the Ego: Your Path to Growth

- Light Codes by Laara, The Nature of the Ego vs. The Nature of the Heart

- Gerald Daquila, The Ego Unveiled: Understanding Its Role in Personal and Spiritual Growth