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It’s a good question… I’ve heard it has to do with the renunciation of possessions. When a monk leaves lay life, they renounce personal possessions, work, and even the idea of self-sufficiency. So going on the alms round serves as a reminder of this.

Another aspect of this is that it strengthens the bond between monastics and laypeople, both important parts of the sangha. The monastics practice humility and detachment, and the laypeople by giving dana gain merit and practice generosity.

To abandon the ego-thoughts, we need to abandon attachments, not desires. The desire to help others is good because it comes from letting go of the sense of self importance. This is obviously not a desire formed by egoistic thinking and comes from a pure heart.

Yes, but in order to wish to help someone, do you not need the notion "I" wish to help someone, or "I" am going to help someone, and therefore without gaining direct insight, is it not essential that a Buddhist has some sort of ego.

Metta to all sentient beings

If we abandon all our ego, then we must abandon desire. Which is fine if its unhealthy desires. However, what about the desire to help others ? or the desire to follow the Dharma, or other healthy desires. Surely we must need some sort of ego to be able to follow the Buddhist path in the first place. Hence, is it not vital that a person has some sort of say ego until they reach a stage on their path that has surpassed the need for it.

Metta to all sentient beings

I gather that the modern sense of "ego" comes from early translation of Freud's (German) writings. My understanding is that this translates the word "Ich," which just means "I." Terrible translation, in other words.

From a Buddhist perspective, trying to destroy the ego is giving it way too much credit.

It's the simple difference between the conventional and the ultimate. While it's true that the "ego" is just an illusion, we need the ego in the conventional sense to interact with people and the world in general. It's when the ego becomes overgrown and inflexible and loses its fluidity and ability to adapt that problems arise. So the object is not to "kill" the ego exactly, but to understand what it is and be able to adapt. Even if a person has some sort of massive religious experience, a new ego arises that integrates that religious experience into its behavior. It's just a matter of balance.

Yea I agree with you compassionate warrior. It seems like when you destroy your ego all thats left is a stupid grin. How can you push yourself to be your best in your great plans of your life ? How do you push yourself to get through an incredibly boring class without using the ego to keep pushing yourself?