Confused by the Buddhist notion of no-self?

Here’s a simple, practical way to think about it.

Many people come to Buddhism for stress reduction and emotion regulation, only to wash up on the rocky shores of no-self. The brain-breaking notion that the self is an illusion.

What could be more counterintuitive? Everything in our culture encourages us to feel like a self. We build our resumes and curate our social media profiles. We buy clothes that fit our specific body type. We make dentist appointments under our name.

(Side note: I love the fact that in Greek, the word for “I” is “ego.” Ego wants a yogurt. Ego is going to the bathroom.)

The Buddhists, however, argue that one of the most healing insights available is to see through the illusion of your ego, your self, the limited identity that separates you from the living universe.

How the hell to do this, though?

One very useful way to think about no-self is to compare yourself to a wave. A wave is a real thing. You can see it. You can surf on it. But it’s also a temporary and changing phenomenon that arises out of the ocean and ultimately returns to it.

That’s you. A fluxing process that emerges out of the universe and then, inevitably, recedes back into it. Dust to dust. Ashes to ashes. Etc.

Why is this so helpful? Because once you see yourself as changing, finite, and—most importantly—part of something much larger, it broadens your view. It also helps you not to cling so tightly to your possessions, achievements, and reputation—all of which can evaporate in an instant.

I’m not saying I have incorporated this insight into my molecules in some sort of permanent way. But the more I can drop into it, the better I do at life.

I talk about this and other head-swimming notions today with my old friend, Annaka Harris, who’s got a new audio documentary about the nature of consciousness.

Paid subscribers can listen to the podcast ad-free right here. Everybody else can listen for free on your favorite podcast player, or watch it on YouTube.

Paid subscribers can also comment on posts, chat with me and my team, and attend twice monthly live video sessions, where I lead a meditation and take questions.

The next live sesh is this Wednesday, March 26th, at 4:30PM ET. Pop your questions for me in the paid subscriber chat right here.

Episode cheatsheet

The big takeaway

Annaka Harris explores the possibility that consciousness may be a fundamental aspect of the universe, rather than arising from our complex brains. By investigating this mystery through meditation and challenging our intuitions, she says we can gain profound insights that put our problems into perspective as well as potentially improve our wellbeing.

Consciousness: the universe's hidden superpower?