The Illusion of 'I': A Dialogue on Mindful Perception
This article presents a dialogue with Venerable Anomadassi Thero, exploring a core concept in Buddhist philosophy: the nature of the "I" ( wemi ) . We often assume the "I" is a solid, permanent entity, but the venerable monk clarifies that it is a distortion arising from clinging . The conversation unravels this illusion by distinguishing between the direct experience of "me" and the much more common notion of "mine" ( mama:pali ) , which is tied to objects and actions. The dialogue highlights a key error in our perception: we believe a separate "I" does an action, rather than seeing the "I" arise with the action itself . This false view traps us in a cycle of distortion. Ultimately, the discussion shifts to the path of a practitioner, contrasting the worldly view of existence with non-existence . A practitioner's wisdom allows them to see through the illusion of the "I" and realise the truth as really i...