Identity Quote by Karma Lekshe Tsomo
““The illusory self, which exists conventionally and dependently, on the basis of its component parts, simply ceases to exist when those parts are rent asunder.””
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Buddhist Philosophy, Karma Lekshe Tsomo, 2018
The self is a construct that dissolves when its parts are separated.
In simple terms: Self is an illusion.
Key Takeaway
Recognize impermanence.
Themes
philosophy
self
impermanence
Mood
contemplative
serene
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- meditation
- psychology
- personal growth
Key Concepts
Buddhist doctrine
non-self
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you experience the self?
- What parts define you?
A Different Perspective
Understanding can be unsettling.
![“While experiencing effect (prarabdha – effect of past lives causes) the seed of illusory self effort (bhrant purushartha) is sown because one has the awareness [belief] of ‘I am the doer’. Otherwise, one simply experiences the effect and after then attains liberation!” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/930/dada-bhagwan-31_awareness_while-experiencing-effect-prarabdha-effe_1501049.jpg)
![“The self does not exist “from its own side,” [...] as an object that can be isolated and defined. The more you search for it, whether through meditation, philosophical inquiry, psychological analysis, or dissection of the brain, you will not, in the end, discover any “thing” that corresponds to…” quote by Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00d/stephen-batchelor-5328_buddhism_the-self-does-not-exist-from-its-own-sid_2408637.jpg)
![“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s self. Everything in the worldly life is nothing but intoxication. The food is intoxicating, the senses are intoxicating. [Therefore] Go to the one, who…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2b3/dada-bhagwan-31_absolute_in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-into_3662.jpg)
