Ego, ignorance and pain exists in the mind and body only. When we stop the preoccupation with our mind and body, our soul stands clear of all images. The Supreme Self is the very Heart and Soul of the embodied soul. We even imagine GOD to be something He is not. They are only our images.
All images are man-made.
All religions are man-made. All sufferings are man-made. God created this universe, He sustains it, and will eventually dissolve it. No soul can claim to perform these functions. This cycle has been going on forever and will continue to go on forever.