The ego is the false self within the illusory universe or Maya.+

The ego is present only in waking or dreaming. The ego is the very basis of the waking or dream. Without the ego, the waking or the dream ceases to exist.

The waking or the dream appears and disappears as a whole. Thus, the waking or dream is impermanent. The ego is the false self within the false experience (waking).

The dream ego, dream body, and the dream world are a reality within the dream, but the dream is considered a falsehood when waking takes place. Similarly, the waking ego, waking body, and waking world are a reality within the waking experience, but the waking experience also becomes a falsehood when the Advaitic wisdom dawns.

Advaitic wisdom dawns when the waking entity (ego) realizes it, itself is not the Self in the midst of waking experience.

Seeking the truth of existence from the standpoint of the ego, which is the false self within the false experience (waking), will not help the seeker to discover the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

When the reasoning base is rectified mentally from the form (ego) to the invisible (Soul), the truth will start unfolding itself. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar