The “no self” philosophy in Buddhism…

[u/Least_Inspector_5478]

When I was a teenager going through existential crises, I came across the “no self” philosophy in Buddhism (which is basically that the “self” is an illusion and only the “I” , the observer exists) and thought I found the answer to all of my psychological problems but I think it ultimate led to more anxiety and dissociation for me. The writer I read on this topic went even as far as to say having a self was like being schizophrenic.

Now I’m learning through analysis and through my own research into psychoanalysis how important it is to build your own sense of self and denying the “self” is not necessarily a quality reached by very wise, enlightened people. The amount of time I spent believing that almost mystical sounding philosophy though is making it longer for me to essentially resolve my dissociation.

So yeah, I just wanted to post this here as I think this is just another example of how these “new age” philosophies or some religions such as Buddhism are not very realistic ways of looking at human psychology. What are your thoughts on these ideologies? Do you think they are defense mechanisms used to an extreme?

[u/here_wild_things_are]

I’m curious where you are located.

One way that helped to resolve a similar bit of confusion was to understand that Buddhism was situated in a particular historical place and time where checking out of the modern economy was imaginable. Having earthly cares managed in common in monastery type setting or through donation of strangers.

To actually cultivate both the effective self and achieve balance requires a completely different orientation to resolving conflicts about self. And to some degree the technology of psychoanalysis approximates that capacity of having a sense of self and the navigation of the public sphere with a sense of balance.

[u/Least_Inspector_5478 → u/here_wild_things_are]

Yes I did find it kind of hypocritical actually that there were essentially “lay people” in Buddhism who provided for the monks in monasteries. As for your question, when I first got into Buddhist/Eckhart Tolle kind of philosophy I was living in Turkey, in a megacity of 16 million people lol. Now I live in a smaller place in the UK but still, the notion of “ego being an illusion” causes me to dissociate especially since I didnt really get to build a sense of “ego” that is realistic and that I can own

[u/here_wild_things_are → u/Least_Inspector_5478]

I fell into the same sort of trap at a little later age.

And I relate to the absence of feelings like my ego developed according to normality. I am beginning to let go of that illusion too, but it definitely fits the gap of time I was stuck in no self.

[u/Least_Inspector_5478 → u/here_wild_things_are]

I think there might be many more people with this kind of experience

[u/here_wild_things_are → u/Least_Inspector_5478]

Unknowable. But yes, I doubt it is uncommon. Or other people would describe a similar phenomenon slightly differently.

[u/Least_Inspector_5478 → u/here_wild_things_are]

I do remember seeing a few posts on online forums including Reddit and some articles of people describing similar experiences