Watts is great. I think he's responsible for some misleading interpretation of eastern thought, however (the 'ego'). Also, the eastern ideas as related by Tolle, et al. are not evolutionary - they merely point to the ground of being, which many have already found by now.
For balance, the ego deals with the personal unconscious in the form of the 'shadow'. Robert A. Johnson's books are very approachable by the average person. They address symbolism, mythology, and psychology. "Owning Your Own Shadow: Understanding the Dark Side of the Psyche" is good.
If you're looking for yet another articulation of the spiritual journey, but from an evolutionary/upward-spiral context (rather than a wholly circular reference 'back to the source') I recommend Cohen's "Evolutionary Enlightenment" (just read first few chapters and it's very simple).
A shaman once told me for balance, consider what you like and what you don't like and why. That's basically one of the simplest approaches I've heard. I think you will find that what you like may not be accepted just as must as what you don't like. There is a difficulty, but reward in determining these dispositions.
Here's an exercise for some - blockage or a feeling of pressure or stifling in the solar plexus area (what Ra had identified as 'ego') is often indicative of unprocessed emotions or repressed feeling. If you breathe deeply for a while, then go into a feeling state and bring that feeling to consciousness, thinking 'what is it that I feel'? That tends to reflect the current disposition of ego and is a clue to balance (integrating its opposite).
For balance, the ego deals with the personal unconscious in the form of the 'shadow'. Robert A. Johnson's books are very approachable by the average person. They address symbolism, mythology, and psychology. "Owning Your Own Shadow: Understanding the Dark Side of the Psyche" is good.
If you're looking for yet another articulation of the spiritual journey, but from an evolutionary/upward-spiral context (rather than a wholly circular reference 'back to the source') I recommend Cohen's "Evolutionary Enlightenment" (just read first few chapters and it's very simple).
A shaman once told me for balance, consider what you like and what you don't like and why. That's basically one of the simplest approaches I've heard. I think you will find that what you like may not be accepted just as must as what you don't like. There is a difficulty, but reward in determining these dispositions.
Here's an exercise for some - blockage or a feeling of pressure or stifling in the solar plexus area (what Ra had identified as 'ego') is often indicative of unprocessed emotions or repressed feeling. If you breathe deeply for a while, then go into a feeling state and bring that feeling to consciousness, thinking 'what is it that I feel'? That tends to reflect the current disposition of ego and is a clue to balance (integrating its opposite).