Listening to Self
3.0 Introduction to Listening to Self
The Nature of Self
The question “Who are you?” or “What is the self?” is a complex and deep one. Consider the following story of the Buddha[1] and the following paraphrase I’ve created that illustrates an additional quality vital to an understanding of listening to the self.
A traveler came upon the Buddha and impressed by his radiance and peace, asked him:
TRAVELER. Are you a god?
BUDDHA. No.
TRAVELER. Perhaps you are a magician or wizard of some kind?
BUDDHA. No.
TRAVELER. Are you a man?
BUDDHA. No.
TRAVELER. Are you an angel?
BUDDHA. No.
TRAVELER. Then, please tell me, what are you?
BUDDHA. I am awake!
Playful Author-Reader Dialogue about the Nature of Self
AUTHOR. Who are you?
READER. What do you mean who are you? I’m __________(insert your name).
AUTHOR. Really? Is that all you are?
READER. Well, no, I’m a . . . (list some of the roles you identify with in society…for example, teacher, student, worker, manager…add age, political affiliation, religious-spiritual-philosophy, sexual orientation…)
AUTHOR. Yes, but is that the whole of who you are?
READER. Well, I am (list things related to your personality, for example, outgoing, diligent, kind . . . and things you love doing, for instance, listening to music, hiking, watching movies, journaling . . . )
AUTHOR. Okay, it that it? Is that everything?
READER. Let me see . . . I have a mind, body, emotions . . . is that what you mean?
AUTHOR. Yes, AND . . . is there anything else?
READER. I don’t think so.
AUTHOR. So, if you were to summarize . . . how would you define your SELF?
READER. I thought I knew, but now I’m not so sure.
- There are many versions of this story that is based on the Dona Sutta: With Dona, trans. Thanissaro Bhikkhustory [from the Pali], 2005. https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.036.than.html. ↵