Self as an Illusion


Most of us think we are something special. But lets face it, this planet is populated by millions of species all having evolved from the original activity of a bunch of amino acids long, long ago. IArt Hornmean very little in the big scheme of things. Yet I walk around the planet with some sense of self-importance.

We humans in the Western Hemisphere tend to celebrate the self. But when you think of the vast number of species on this planet, and the number of solar systems in this galaxy, and the number of galaxies in this universe, and the possible number of dimensions in the world, well glorioski! When I walk down the street, strutting my stuff, well, how foolish I am! The diversity of the world is too vast to place much value on the relevance of one member of that diversity.

Self-importance is a bit of an illusion. But thats not all. For all I know, self itself may be an illusion. I dont propose you reach the same conclusion yourselfthis book doesnt depend on your reaching the same conclusionbut it does happen to be my suspicion.

Certainly the feeling of self as an actual entity in the world, independent of body, may be an illusion. We accept that the body is not an illusion. It is part of the world of objects. But because the experience of self is a fabrication of the meta-level , what is its status?

Does beauty exist? Do right and wrong exist? They are things we refer to, but they are constructs, things built in the mind. Does a poem exist before it is spoken or written? I think not. But I cant be sure. I guess it depends on what we mean by ˜˜exist.

Most scientists and philosophers have historically bypassed the problem of self altogether. They only spend time on things that can be objectively measured. They neither accept nor reject self as an existing thing. Generally, ˜˜not interested. Thats a smart move. Very safe.

Buddhists suggest that self is an illusion. That it doesnt really exist. During Buddhist meditation, one experiences mindfulness of the present. In a sense, during this state, the sense of self as a separate entity is lost. Instead, one is immersed in what one is doing, what we called earlier the ˜˜real world. In this state we operate at the object-level . The meta-level is no longer actively positing the existence of self as an entity separate from the rest of the world.

This feeling of separateness that Buddhists shed may indeed be an illusion possessed by the rest of us. If it is an illusion, it may be a necessary one in the corporate world or the Western economy. Differentiation, after all, is the name of the game. My advice is, dont sell your worldly goods until youve got your permanent residency status in Tibet.

For now, just know that we have a brain that creates a singularity out of what it perceives. When it applies this binding capacity to its own functioning, it creates the feeling of self. When it attends to the objects of the world, without judging them, it can experience simplicity and connectedness. When it judgeswhich it must do in order to surviveit enters dangerous territory. It identifies with its own opinions . It creates meaning and galvanizes emotional responses. When it feels empty or challenged, it responds as ego. It can think it is very special and get hung up on this belief.

Without the full experience of the present, we crave substance; we fear our insubstantiality.




Face It. Recognizing and Conquering The Hidden Fear That Drives All Conflict At Work
Face It. Recognizing and Conquering The Hidden Fear That Drives All Conflict At Work
ISBN: 814408354
EAN: N/A
Year: 2002
Pages: 134

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