Ego is narcissism, basically. There is, strictly speaking, no such thing as narcissism. People we call narcissists just have a very big (and therefore sensitive) ego.

But every ego is narcissistic. Take a genuinely good and altruistic person and start telling him he is a piece of shit, one of the worst and cruelest people you have ever met in your life. He will be hurt. Why? Tell him he’s an orange square cucumber and he won’t be hurt, maybe just confused or laughing. Why? Both are false.

But he doesn’t care about being seen as a cucumber or not, but he cares deeply to be seen as good and altruistic. The nature of his insult and the nature of what’s called a “narcissistic injury” is the same. The intensity is different, yes. Narcissists think they’re grandiose. But every ego thinks it’s grandiose and better than others. It’s just a matter of degree. More of that - more of injury, more anger, more rage. The “good person” in question will probably not show his anger but likely hold a grudge against you, or at the very least won’t think of you so kindly. A full blown narcissist may launch into what’s called “a narcissistic rage” upon receiving his injury.

So can enlightenment cure narcissism? Of course! That is, if you like, the definition of it.

Would it be harder for a narcissist to reach it? Probably. But that’s not because they are different, that’s simply because they carry more of suppressed trauma and anger in them. Narcissism is their way to cope, their protective shell, just like any ego. They will experience more of intense emotion, anger, rage, fear and tears than someone with a thinner shell, but the fundamental process of healing will be the same.