The personal self is the one who is in the search process and cannot see that it is itself the cause of the imprisonment inside of its own deluded and false reality. Eventually it is seen that the illusory self has to give up the reins of imaginary control like a dog who has taken over the household and is causing mayhem. The ego structure that is created after misidentification of the true nature becomes more and more complicated and creates ties that bind the mental system into a belief structure that is almost impossible to penetrate. Constant pain, misery and fear which are automatically created out of this false reality gradually cause the true recognition of its nature and the need for its dissemination. Eventually there is an awakening to the fact that the ego is a complete falsehood in terms of ones true nature but can be a servant for the expression of consciousness and not the falsely perceived master.
Was this misidentification intentional? All I have is concepts regarding that matter and I know where concepts lead. Besides, I am more interested in the escape than the reason I ended up in jail. Jed McKenna has the feeling that the universe is just a 'Big Playful Puppy.' Sometimes it seems more like a mad dog.
Dog consciousness: Hmmn.