The point is that the ego in its lower octave “destroys” the collective and itself.
We need to maintain a balance in things and in this existence in order to progress properly and bring humanity into its purest form.
This also includes meditating on this concept. An imbalance will give you problems. The balance of things are very important, the masculine and feminine, light and darkness. This is also related to the duality of the physical plane.
A strong imbalance on one's personality and expression gives a false self-perception, false personal power, loss of one's identity. But this does not mean that one must destroy one's “ego,” one's personality, cancel oneself out.
This also has as a negative effect on what is connected to its “opposite,” as a “reflection” that is an integral part of this. The individual and the collective. Ego is individual is personal expression.
Alteration, non-understanding, or an imbalance causes the “destruction” of the collective by “reflection” as well. When this is in balance, because of the existing “reflex,” you have the, “9 out of 10 thoughts are directed to other people.” The collective.
When the false ego is destroyed and balance is achieved, one reaches “higher states of consciousness.” One achieves pure self-expression.
The point here is that the individual cannot exist without the collective.
Lack of interest in the collective, very often, is a symptom of imbalance.