This is a tangent to be sure, but it’s related in some way to your addition of the 4th step in the self-compassion practice and the reminder of “no self”. I know this is a tough concept, but I hope I can articulate my question so that it makes some sense. During meditation we are asked to “notice our thoughts”, “not to be attached to the…
This is a tangent to be sure, but it’s related in some way to your addition of the 4th step in the self-compassion practice and the reminder of “no self”. I know this is a tough concept, but I hope I can articulate my question so that it makes some sense. During meditation we are asked to “notice our thoughts”, “not to be attached to them”, come back to the breath and just observe and maybe notice patterns of thought and emotions that may arise. Then come back to your anchor, whatever that may be. My question is, when we are “observing” and the fact that there is no self, doesn’t that mean we are just having “a thought about the thought”? And so even that we let go. But then “who” is having the insight of what is happening if that is just another thought and how can we even trust it if it’s just another thought? Maybe trust is the wrong word, and deciding whether it’s helpful or unhelpful, skillful or unskillful is the move?
This is a tangent to be sure, but it’s related in some way to your addition of the 4th step in the self-compassion practice and the reminder of “no self”. I know this is a tough concept, but I hope I can articulate my question so that it makes some sense. During meditation we are asked to “notice our thoughts”, “not to be attached to them”, come back to the breath and just observe and maybe notice patterns of thought and emotions that may arise. Then come back to your anchor, whatever that may be. My question is, when we are “observing” and the fact that there is no self, doesn’t that mean we are just having “a thought about the thought”? And so even that we let go. But then “who” is having the insight of what is happening if that is just another thought and how can we even trust it if it’s just another thought? Maybe trust is the wrong word, and deciding whether it’s helpful or unhelpful, skillful or unskillful is the move?