The context in which Sam mentioned this term was a discussion about what makes it possible for people to collaborate in an open fashion. We both articulated to each other that collaboration seems to occur best when the participants are able to employ a sense of self that is 'virtual'. Sam observed that it seems to take a level of maturation and experience before one can engage with such a non-permanent ego self. I agreed and that made sense to me because, as Varela explains, such a sense of self emerges out of experience. In effect, enough experience of self and other relationships would be necessary. This also links to the work of Buber, specifically his essay: I and Thou.