My Reflections, Sources, and Suggestions

Well, creating this website sure took a lot of contemplation to complete! 

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In "Who am I?" I illustrated my motivation for diving into a set of concepts that could lead to subjective, nonconceptual realizations. I often find myself thinking in circles, winding up in the same place I thought I began just moments or years before. If some concepts could lead out of that unsatisfactory circle which others tell me they also experience, it would be great to learn and share those ideas.

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In "The Buddhist View," I presented a summary of my understanding of the dense philosophical concepts from the Abhidharma tradition. I have come to appreciate the specificity with which ancient and modern scholars of this tradition try to articulate personal, subjective, momentary flashes of experience. If I am ever bored again, I should not be; there is so much contained both within and beyond my awareness at any given moment. 

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In "Examples from Life," I distilled many rough drafts of possible examples to the analyzed anecdotes that seemed most in line with my understanding of the five skandhas. One could spend eternity analyzing those moments, so I stopped before the onset of bewilderment. Yet, when I dove into bed the other night after a long day of classes, I felt the warm fluffy sheets wrap around my body and sighed in relief. I thought of how nice it was to finally be able to sleep. However, immediately following, I reflected on how the warmth and softness of my bed made me respond with a positive reaction, and I identified the wholeness of myself in that moment as an almost-sleeper. Then I laughed to myself as I watched my mind try to analyze the sensation of relaxation. I'll certainly have more moments like these.

Overall this was an enjoyable exercise. I hope you found it interesting as well. Again, I encourage you to look at more authoritative sources to learn about Buddhism, and I invite you to question your own experience of the self and see if it matches up with our everyday, utilitarian, ID card notion of the singular, independent self (hint: it does not). 

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I must point out that practicing compassion for yourself and others, no matter how illusory the self/other dichotomy may be, is extremely important. In many philosophical and religious traditions including Buddhism, breaking down the barrier between self and other means showing love, compassion, and generosity to the 'other' fruits on the tree of life. Be aware of this truth if you start getting disillusioned while questioning the very illusory notion of self.