According to the provided text, what is the relationship between ego and happiness?

The text from Chapter 2 establishes a direct and inverse relationship between ego and happiness. The author posits that the feeling of "I-ness," such as claiming "I speak," is an manifestation of ego. The key to profound joy is to relinquish this self-importance. The passage states, "Surrendering the 'I-ness' at His feet brings immeasurable happiness." It further generalizes this principle by asserting, "When ego goes, the whole world becomes full of happiness," suggesting that ego is the primary barrier to experiencing universal joy and contentment.