Is it true that if the ego disappears, the soul becomes God?

[Ms. Thrylokya asked:- I heard from one spiritual devotee that if ego disappears, the soul becomes God. Is it true? My consciousness is doubting this very much.]

Swami Replied:- If the ego is removed, a impure soul becomes a pure soul. If copper is removed from gold, 100% pure gold results. You cannot say that if copper is removed from gold, it becomes platinum! Ego means basic identity. Such ego is not impurity. Such ego is a basic necessity. If this basic ego is also removed, underconfidence develops making the soul unfit for the service of God. If ego grows, it becomes pride, which is a very dangerous impurity. Hence, ego must be at the level of basic identity (‘I’) and shall not grow to become pride. Ego shall not also fall below the basic identity. Normal temperature must be always maintained by the body. If the normal temperature goes down or grows up, in both cases, danger happens. You can raise the below normal ego by self-praise and bring down the above normal ego or pride through self-criticism. In these two contexts only, self-praise and self-criticism are not wrong. If the grown-up ego is removed, the soul becomes eligible for the entry of God so that the soul becomes God or incarnation. Eligibility does not mean that God shall enter the soul compulsorily. Entry of God into a soul to become incarnation is purely the will of God. Such will also comes in God provided there is some welfare program to be done to the world of devotees. Eligibility of the soul is not decided by this birth alone. Eligibility could have been achieved by the soul through spiritual effort done in past several births. The certificate of eligibility shall be always given by God only and not by one’s self.