Freeing self from ego

Al Ghazali went on a very long leave of absence and then came back to do almost the same thing as he was doing before he left and the reason he left was because he felt he was not being real , but was living a lie and was not doing things out of the single intention of surrender.
When he came back , he had learned how to surrender and was able to do the same thing minus the ego part that wanted fame and a standing. What he said about debate: It will only be worthwhile when both parties put aside the ego.