Is meditation futile if you still have an ego for a centre? Some spiritual teachers say it is?

i will not go brief... Ego is of 3types... I am the body, I am all , I am nothing , all is true the first i am body is ignorance...body comes to reality on association of mind..., there is only the soul beyond mind which is omnipresent, it is the pure awareness , as its said awareness or witness or etc is also on association of mind, when the mind is absent there is no perception there is just it... It is only a reference to make you understand actually its beyond it where words cannot reach..this is the third nothingness.... The first is not good to practice its suitable for material life... The other 2 is spiritual either can lead to enlightenment, your question was beautifull, i wish and pray you experience it....all you have to do is to silence the mind using the mind and you shall experience it . Be happy keep smiling always.