>Self = the perception, interpretation, and enactment of human individuality
>
>The above quality is possessed, of necessity and by definition, by every
>non-brain-damaged human being who has ever lived. The phenomenon can be
>stronger or weaker, depending on historical conditions and individual
>choices, but it is wired into human being.
>
>Brian, you talk like "no-self" means you have no self, no perception,
>interpretation, and enactment of your individuality, your separateness and
>partial independence from other people and things. If that's your claim,
>you are wrong....
>What has "human" got to do with individuality? "perception,
interpretation, and enactment of...individuality" is a common
feature--better, the defining characteristic--of all *animate*
life. Every animal--including "brain damaged" humans--perceives,
interprets its perceptions, and enacts individually (but also
collectively) its interaction with its environment. But it may
well be only a human who takes what he has in common with
a cockroach as an enobling token of superiority. If indeed
human existence represents an evolutionary gain over other
forms of animate life it is because, as the Buddha taught,
humans are able to use their individuality to transcend
individuality itself (though only by making the right sort
of efforts throughout the main domains of their material
and spiritual lives).
Shane Mage
"Mortals immortals, immortals mortals,
living their deaths, dying their lives"
Herakleitos of Ephesos, fr. 62