The Selfish in Samsara

Upon reading the draft translation of Dunne and McClintock, I began to ponder more deeply the relationship of the Self and it’s aggregates and see the nature of both more clearly. The self is neither a part of nor separate from the aggregates. Thinking of how the aggregates undergo a constant birth and destruction, it would be said then that the self would exercise this as well. Interestingly put, the “aggregates arise form the habitual sense of I” (Line 25 , page 206). This habitual “I” is not indeed the self, but is noted as the self’s substratum. Further on, it is noted how the habitual sense of “I” gives birth to the aggregates, and in essence is unreal in nature. Perhaps in poor metaphorical fashion, I began imagining the Self toting this purse or arsenal of different items that can be defining as an extension of the self. That chapstick, after application, becomes a part of the Self, but is not the true Self. Or contacts – they help aid one in seeing but cannot be in essence part of the Self. These material items existing are all the Self’s possessions, an extension of “I” and owned by the self that can be removed and reapplied, but do not constitute the essence of Self. The atmanina as stated on line 19 of the Analysis of the Self, are the Self’s possessions and aid the self, but do not constitute it. If these extensions and the habitual sense of ‘I’ do not exist and lack the true nature of the Self, then how does the Self, lacking these ‘possessions’ exist? Stated simply in line 10 on page 208, “The aggregates are essentially empty and void; the Element is essentially empty and void”. When the idea of “I” and the extension of it ceases, the Self is empty and “the appropriation ceases” (line 16, page 208). When this appropriation ceases, birth ceases. As learned prior, the ceasing of birth and death in the cycle of samsara serves as the essence of liberation. Dwelling in the self as “I”, one drowns in samsara, with the idea that the Self’s possessions are actually the true Self. Reflecting on the world and the people I come to interact with, it is undoubtedly true that the more unselfish one is, in thought and action, the closer liberation can become. The unselfish dwell in the true nature of Nirvana.