I was just re reading LaBerge's book in the last chapter where he talks about the Tibetan's having used LD for thousands of years. The focus of the chapter is how we mistake our egos for what we take to be us. This is some fascinating stuff. Like when you are dreaming you might understand that the you that you are seeing is not you but just a representation of what you take to be you. So then if follows that if you begin to realize this it applies to your waking life as well it then becomes easier to disregard and not be manipulated by the ego. Your experiences become broader and better.

The ego self based on memories and experiences builds walls around you, making is difficult to achieve things you desire. Like they say the informed ego says "I am what I believe myself to be" and the real self says simply "I am". The uninformed ego says "This is me with this bundle of traits and problems."