Seeking the Self: A Ghost Story

[Newest Reality]

We are all quite certain that we have a self. When you say "I like chocolate" or "I vote progressive," no one asks what you mean by "I." That task was left for centuries to philosophers and theologians. "Know thyself" is an axiom worth heeding, but what is there to know? If one camp of modern science has its way, the answer is "nothing." The self, we are told, is an illusion created by the complexity of brain functions. As thousands of inputs bombard each other every second, forming an almost infinite tangle of neural messages, a ghost was created whose name is "I."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deepak-chopra/know-self_b_1322867.html

[marasinghe]

1. rather apologetically & somewhat contrary to the nature of our group ....

.... the lines of your Opening Post, seem reminiscent to me, of the common rightwing personality of these times.

again: sorry. didn't mean to make light of your post, or anything like that. just to reiterate that -- people (on both the right & left peripheries; myself included) need to keep a sharper eye on themselves, to analyze the sources of their convictions & ideologies, on an ongoing basis. which would be a 'Buddhist' thing to do as well -- with regard to one's understanding; 'Samma Ditthie', if you will & if i may venture to use the term.

quite a thought-provoking post of yours.

[Newest Reality]

2. Thanks for commenting ...

I think the subject of the nature of self is a very open and poignant topic.

The OP text is the author's opinion and my views on the matter of no-self are apolitical. The author's views were in relation to science and self.

Context is important and there are many factors in doctrines of no-self that clarify misconceptions and inferences.