Re: The observer cannot be observed
Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 9:08 pm
As DAM mentioned, in Indian spiritual traditions, there is still the belief in a “higher self”, the true self, or pure awareness. And this can still be conceived as an I. It is an experiencing I, but not a thought based I. It is impersonal, meaning it is not the source of likes, dislikes, or problems, or needs. These are all aspects of the person or the ego.
But in more Asian based traditions, this awareness is conceived as being no self, for the fact that it is essentially descriptionless, characterless, it has a “feeling” of emptiness, space, or nothingness. If a self is one that has a story, this one does not. It has no autobiography, so it is impersonal. Selves have a story. “Today I did this and that”. Selves have wishes, like some and dislikes, this one does not.
But, the existing self structure is supposedly still present even when this no self is realised, it plays upon the surface of this no self, but if this no self is “realised” or known to exist, then it does not confuse itself with its contents. This awareness in normal functioning is “merged” with the ego, or fully integrated, therefore awareness only sees “through” the ego structure, and thus can’t know itself. This is normal human functioning.
But if this awareness for some reason, usually spontaneously, manages to get some distance between it and that which plays in it, it can see it as an “object” or a thing, rather than being merged with it and seeing “as” it. This is detachment. But the functioning of thinking and communicating still functions for this awareness, because those aspects are actually grounded “in” awareness. Therefore one doesn’t become a zombie when this detachment and observing of the ego occurs, but rather one retains relief from the problems of the ego. This is why it’s characterised as liberation. It’s like having a huge weight lifted from your shoulders, to not have to be caught up in reactive tendencies of the ego. Due to this lifting of weight, the natural character of detached awareness is relief, peace, spaciousness, etc. Ego is also known as “monkey mind” so to have a monkey lifted off your back is obviously a good thing.
But as I mentioned, the monkey is still there, can be seen, and can still act through the body. But not without passing through awareness, if one has stabilised in this awareness. So to be detached from ego, means “you” are not the ego. You are awareness, the ego is a structure within the brain, which in normal functioning controls your actions, and dictates your mood.
You can say there is still a you, a perspective, but it’s not the same as a normal person. It’s like a wandering eye within a brain. The most basic of selves there could be. It is the self stripped of everything else. This is why it’s said the awareness wears the person like an outfit, but it can be removed. The outfit still remains, but it is seen for its emptiness, or lack of substance. It is like a shell with no real centre. Awareness is the centre.
But in more Asian based traditions, this awareness is conceived as being no self, for the fact that it is essentially descriptionless, characterless, it has a “feeling” of emptiness, space, or nothingness. If a self is one that has a story, this one does not. It has no autobiography, so it is impersonal. Selves have a story. “Today I did this and that”. Selves have wishes, like some and dislikes, this one does not.
But, the existing self structure is supposedly still present even when this no self is realised, it plays upon the surface of this no self, but if this no self is “realised” or known to exist, then it does not confuse itself with its contents. This awareness in normal functioning is “merged” with the ego, or fully integrated, therefore awareness only sees “through” the ego structure, and thus can’t know itself. This is normal human functioning.
But if this awareness for some reason, usually spontaneously, manages to get some distance between it and that which plays in it, it can see it as an “object” or a thing, rather than being merged with it and seeing “as” it. This is detachment. But the functioning of thinking and communicating still functions for this awareness, because those aspects are actually grounded “in” awareness. Therefore one doesn’t become a zombie when this detachment and observing of the ego occurs, but rather one retains relief from the problems of the ego. This is why it’s characterised as liberation. It’s like having a huge weight lifted from your shoulders, to not have to be caught up in reactive tendencies of the ego. Due to this lifting of weight, the natural character of detached awareness is relief, peace, spaciousness, etc. Ego is also known as “monkey mind” so to have a monkey lifted off your back is obviously a good thing.
But as I mentioned, the monkey is still there, can be seen, and can still act through the body. But not without passing through awareness, if one has stabilised in this awareness. So to be detached from ego, means “you” are not the ego. You are awareness, the ego is a structure within the brain, which in normal functioning controls your actions, and dictates your mood.
You can say there is still a you, a perspective, but it’s not the same as a normal person. It’s like a wandering eye within a brain. The most basic of selves there could be. It is the self stripped of everything else. This is why it’s said the awareness wears the person like an outfit, but it can be removed. The outfit still remains, but it is seen for its emptiness, or lack of substance. It is like a shell with no real centre. Awareness is the centre.