That's because there's no discernible experience of a self that we can imagine being without.
The sense of self is never separate from any experience that takes place and therefore, not being separate from experience, the self is simply a convenient way to place experience.
It's a grammatical rule to put a subject before a noun, to say "I am walking" rather than just "walking."
Yet the "I am" is never separate from the "walking."
Therefore, ironically, what's believed to be the most obvious thing in the world, the "I" that is experiencing, is never experienced at all!
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Awesome stuff
ReplyDeleteWish I could do more than think it.
Stu
Stu, of course you can. Because you just need to look directly without expectations or assumptions.
ReplyDeleteYou're experiencing a computer right now. It's direct and obvious, right? You don't need to think about it or rationalize it...it's just there. Look around the room at everything that's there. Notice that there are thoughts and feelings in the body...but no self whatsoever!
It's never been there and never will be. Think about it or not...beliefs won't help you. Beliefs will only hinder. Just look without expectations.
Good luck!
This post cracked the entire illusion right open for me.
ReplyDeleteReading this is became glaringly obvious what the knot was all about and why the concept of a seeming self, had to be there - as a convenience or an inevitable aspect of logic.
It exposed the reality that the sense of self was valid and understandable as Dan has explained, but that did not support any real entity.
When I followed the instruction to look for an actual self - there was nothing to find.
So if it can't be found, it doesn't exist.
The entire presumption that the "I" that is experiencing, is somehow separate from the experience or action or activity - fell apart.
There is no actual entity that experiences so the experience and the experiencer merge leaving just what is - with no subject apart from the happening.
There is no subject who the happening happens to.
Clear as crystal, thank you Dan!!!
"Dan said...
ReplyDeleteStu, of course you can. Because you just need to look directly without expectations or assumptions."
Dan, i don't mean to present as thick, but i just can't get it !
i "look directly" by asking myself "where is the I?"
i watch my thoughts, how they come, whether they include expectations or assumptions, i watch my thought reactions to those thoughts and the feeling reactions.
i understand that there is no I.
i grok that there is no I.
But still i want to be different to the way i am. i want to experience Oneness.
i understand that this wanting is still wanting to be a me (albeit improved)