IMO,

You're ego is not your true self. It is the person your self creates to deal with life and interact with other beings. Someone who has never experienced ego loss has been building and building this fake persona on top of their true self their entire life, driving the true self further away.

To be able to experience your true self again is a life changing experience. Nobody is the same after a large hallucinogenic dose. The first time is usually frightening, as your self-serving ego is fighting to remain in control. Once you work through this, though, ego loss is a greater feeling than anything imaginable.

I am surprised, however, that all the talk has been about LSD, which I would agree with previous posts as being unnatural. But, what about mushrooms and DMT-containing plants that people have been using for thousands of years? Once you have experienced the ecstasy of ego loss, you just know in your heart that this was the basis of all religions. If you have a bible, read Exodus 16:14. It describes the "Bread of the Lord" as what could only be mushrooms - appearing overnight, small, round, white, wilting in the sun, preserved in honey.

Think about it - either ancient people never injested these things (unlikely), or these are what are referred to as "sacraments," bringing about a connection to God.

Comments or contradictions are welcome.