Beyond the Illusion of Self

"We usually think of the self as something we are-solid, continuous, obvious. Buddhist psychology invites us to look again: The self is not found; it is made. It's a living construction that emerges when our mind repeatedly meets certain objects, reacts strongly to them, and then weaves those reactions into a story that acts like "me." The Mechanics of the Mind In Buddhist psychology, the mind is "object-related.""

"As such, the self is a function of the way we relate to the things in our world. Every moment our senses meet something-a face, a tone of voice, a memory. In general, this contact gives rise instantly to a felt tone: pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral. That felt tone colors our perception. When something stimulates a feeling, it creates an imprint."

Buddhist psychology explains the self as a constructed, living process that emerges from repeated, object-related mental activity rather than an inherent entity. Sensory contact with objects immediately generates a feeling tone—pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral—that colors perception and prompts labels and interpretations. Strong, personal reactions leave imprints that become mental dispositions and recurring patterns. Repetition of this loop yields a coherent hypothesis of an enduring 'I' that remembers and reacts consistently. That constructed self simplifies experience, supports effective action, and provides psychological protection and comfort, yet the apparent permanence of the self is ultimately an illusion produced by habitual cognition.

Read at Psychology Today