Spiritual Ego

When we engage in spiritual practices and start to live more spiritually fulfilling lives, we always have to be on constant vigilance against developing a spiritual ego. The spiritual ego is the conception of the self's conception of itself, and it creates itself a new identity centered around the practice of humility; creating and hiding pride in its place. The ego is a tricky thing that fools us through the hardy iron chains which it controls us with, and whenever we try to reduce its control and power, often it is strengthened and resists. Observing itself observing itself, gives the ego a reason to develop a newfound superiority. It views itself as more spiritual, as more tolerant and more compassionate, and simply as the most humble. All of these are opposites of true spiritual practice, yet when we engage in these conversations and we turn not only preachy but braggy about what we do, we feed our spiritual egos. If you're able to leave behind all these needs to convert others into your way of life, and you are content with fulfilling your practices in silence and with due diligence then you are freeing yourself from this spiritual ego. As soon as you must in any way shape or form enforce your way of living and thinking onto another, it is your ego seeking control. If you were truly as free of it, as you claim after your ego deaths then you would have no need to tell people about it, except for those who ask. "If you love true knowledge, devote yourself to the ascetic life; for mere theoretical knowledge puffs a man up" (cf. 1 Cor. 8:1). - St Mark the Ascetic, Philokalia, Vol. 1 p.125