If Not I Then Who?

Ta-Wan

If you say to someone there is no I and they decide to accommodate you rather than just assume you are mad - assuming they open up to the conversation, then they ask ..

"If there is no me, then who is doing it?"

..and of course that has no answer as if there is no I or me, then there is also no other to do it.

When there is no I there is also no universe, no possible thing. So they probably just nod and hope you go away soon.

This concept that is outside the bounds of language, is of a no-thing, not any thing. It comes over as you may accept there is everything or you may accept there is nothing - in either case you can not then have a notion of I or other or anything - even in the concept of everything you must see this comes to a one outside of definition.

All of this word play sounds like a pointless headache, the key writers on it do seem to go on and on and thinking about it is a koan in itself, and there is the point.. as on trying, you see the fallacy of trying and your mind stumps itself and stops - open to bliss. Bam - and you get it (well not you but it is got), the notion of I is blown away, you may smile or laugh and see the magic.

This post originally appeared on Ta-Wan's blog, Tao Wow.