The realization and extension of the (s)Self.

Is difference between things (environments) and persons possible in Deep ecology?  When we sacrifice or give up the egoistic (small s) in favor of an interconnected, and therefore dependent, Self – are we “incorporating” everything (“otherness”) into our ego or do we transcend the “self” and realize a comprehensive consciousness that does not require principles or duty to define our relationship with nature?  The act of self-realization as a necessary condition is interconnected with nature, and therefore environments must flourish for humans to reach a state of ecological consciousness.  In this way are we identifying with, recognizing, (seeing), the natural world or radically extending our ego to gain control over nature?