Expert: Justin Choo - 1/19/2011

Question
Hello!

I appreciated your answer to a recent question of mine, and I hope you won't mind if I ask you another one?

I think I understand that the "self" that we are naturally attached to is really just a compilation of tons of opinions and perceptions, thoughts.  And because thoughts are fleeting and not reality, our idea of "self" is also not real.  

Of course I am having trouble giving up the idea that "I" exist as different from other people.  But I think I have a good argument for why this makes sense.  It seems to me that even if everyone came to understand that their idea of themselves are not their real selves, we would all still be different from eachother.  We look differently, talk differently, and have different talents and strengths.  Even if 2 people were to attain enlightenment, that doesn't mean they would be exactly the same afterwards, right?  

I guess what I'm asking boils down to: is there ANY amount of "self" which is real?  

Thank you so much for your time!

Answer
Hi Kelly,

On the mundane aspect, the "self" is very real such that the survival instinct is predominant.  So long as we are alive, the individuality in each of us is real.  It is the manifestation of the consciousness taking shape in the form of a physical body, the "self".  There is no denying that the "self" is real as long as we are alive.  Once a person is dead, this physical "self" disintegrates, and the consciousness or the stream of consciousness takes on another life.  If we consider this cycle of birth and death, then I would say the "self" is just illusion, passing in and out, taking different forms.  

Well, this is my layman's opinion.  

Take care.

Justin Choo