Buddhism Quote by Stephen Batchelor
![“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)
““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 it. Nonetheless, this is not to deny that a self exists. It exists, but not in the way we instinctively feel it to exist. An empty self is a changing, evolving, functional, and moral self. In fact—and this is the twist—if the self were not empty in this way, it would be unable to do anything. For such a hypothetical self would be utterly disassociated from everything in the living world, existing in a purely metaphysical sphere, incapable of either acting or being acted upon.””
About This Quote
Source Book: "The Open Heart" by Stephen Batchelor, 2012
The self is not a fixed object but an evolving, functional construct; its emptiness allows action and moral agency.
In simple terms: The self is fluid and empty, enabling us to act and be moral.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the empty, dynamic self.
Themes
identity
emptiness
philosophy
morality
selfhood
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- meditation
- self-inquiry
- ethical decision-making
- personal growth
Key Concepts
non-duality
Buddhist philosophy
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does an empty self affect responsibility?
- Can you find stability without a fixed self?
A Different Perspective
The concept may be abstract for those seeking concrete identity.
![“[Mindfulness] is not concerned with anything transcendent or divine. It serves as an antidote to theism, a cure for sentimental piety, a scalpel for excising the tumor of metaphysical belief. (130)” quote by Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/04b/stephen-batchelor-5328_antidote_mindfulness-is-not-concerned-with-anythi_151409.jpg)
![“The extraction of discrete parts of Chöd teachings from their broader philosophical contexts is symptomatic of how Chöd has been incorporated into and transmitted through other Tibetan Buddhist lineages. For example [...] Chöd practices gradually merged with pre-existing models of deity yoga, such…” quote by Michelle Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b05/michelle-sorensen-60370_2013_the-extraction-of-discrete-parts-of-ch-d_4303.jpg)