What part does ego play? I've read about "being" which is removed from the individual and connected to the universal source of existence. I believe in a higher source of consciousness;however, it's hard to let ego--go. Ego must serve some purpose.

You are absolutely right that it does serve a purpose; everything about us does...or we wouldn't do it.

I wrote an article about the three parts of the mind and how they function (subconscious, conscious, and super-conscious minds) http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-26138-Spirituality-Examiner~y2010m4d15-How-to-know-everything-Or-using-your-mind-for-a-change

The 'ego' is in reality your 'self-image' which lives in your subconscious mind; and like all things, it is neither good nor bad. If anything, it naturally pulls us towards our more animalistic impulses, which makes the 'struggle' to operate from our Divine Source, rather than our instincts.

Ask me anything