Nature of Self

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From Nondual Philosophy List

 

> Equanimity and nondoership both follow from the negation of the

> differentiation of self and other, don't they?

>

>

> Andrew

 

yes andrew. they do. the negation of the differentiation of the self

and other is more however not to be confused. what this self is, which

is indistinct from another? how do we know it? since as long as

perception of another exists, such a negation is not possible (because

if one tries to do so, he is just imagining that his 'self' the

other). all such negations, if at all shud be based on wisdom acquired

thru the objective contemplation of the truth. when i say,

contemplation, it is not a thought, but a deep absorptive process.

 

i wud rather prefer to say that equanimity and non-doership both

directly follow from negation of all conceptions of the self. the

following broad categories exist:

 

1. conception/cognition formed due to birth

2. conception/cognition due to prolonged pondering over an ideation of

self

 

both are equally dangerous. and both have varous forms. the following

are the forms of incorrect cognition of the self, formed due to birth.

 

1. form

2. feelings

3. perceptions

4. mental constructions

6. (conditioned) consciousness

 

the following are the forms of incorrect cognition of the self formed

due to prolonged pondering over and ideation of the self

 

1. that the self is non-existent

2. that the self is eternal

3. that the self is momentarily extant.

4. that the self is different from others

5. that the self is the same as others in the universe

6. that the self is subject to birth and death

7. that the self is not subject to birth and death

8. that the self has an over-soul governing it

9. that the self has no over-soul governing it

10. that the self is the creator

11. that the self is not the creator, and is part of the creation

12. that the self is bright light

13. that the self is darkness

14. that the self has a will

15. that the self has no will

 

with all these different forms of incorrect cognitions of the self,

one adds complication by philosophising the self. the buddha never

encouraged such questions or metaphysical discussions only becuase the

conceptions of the self simply let the situation go out of control.

(what i mean is, it becomes a mess to unbind from. so many bondages

due to one's beleifs itself!)

 

-balaji