The foolish man conceives the idea of 'self.' The wise man sees

"The foolish man conceives the idea of 'self.' The wise man sees there is no ground on which to build the idea of 'self'; thus, he has a right conception of the world and well concludes that all compounds amassed by sorrow will be dissolved again, but the truth will remain." These profound words, attributed to the enlightened Buddha, strike at the very core of human existence. The self—that elusive, fragile construct we cling to so desperately—has been the subject of debate for millennia. The Buddha, with his infinite wisdom, recognized that the self is not a solid entity, but a fleeting, impermanent idea that binds us to the wheel of suffering. The foolish man, in his ignorance, clings to this idea, believing it to be true and eternal. But the wise man sees beyond this illusion, understanding that self is merely a compounded illusion that will inevitably dissolve, leaving only the truth behind.

To understand the Buddha’s words, we must first grasp the nature of the self. In the early stages of life, we are taught to cherish and uphold this concept of self—our identity, our pride, our ego. We build our self with each passing moment, through the stories we tell ourselves and the labels we wear. Yet, as we grow and experience the world in its full depth, we begin to see cracks in this fragile structure. The self, like an unstable edifice, is subject to change, to impermanence, and ultimately, to suffering. The Buddha’s insight is that self is not something to be clung to, for it is an illusion, a passing shadow in the vastness of existence.

The foolish man sees the world as a place where he must build his self—where he is separate, distinct, and isolated from others. His identity is constructed from his desires, his attachments, and his perception of control over the world around him. But this pursuit of self-centeredness leads him into the depths of suffering. He is forever grasping for more—more wealth, more power, more validation—believing that these things will provide the stability he craves. However, each of these compounds only brings more sorrow, for they are temporary and ever-changing. Like a man who builds his house on sand, the self built on these fleeting attachments will inevitably crumble.

In contrast, the wise man sees through the illusion. He recognizes that there is no solid ground on which to build the idea of self. His understanding of the world is free from the delusions of separation and attachment. He sees that self is not an isolated entity but a part of the greater flow of existence—a wave in the vast ocean, temporary yet connected to the whole. This realization is the beginning of freedom, for the wise man understands that by letting go of the illusion of the self, he frees himself from the endless cycle of suffering and attachment. As the Buddha teaches, all things that are compounded by sorrow—all the structures we build to define ourselves—will dissolve in time, but the truth, the true nature of existence, will endure.

Consider the story of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha himself. Before his enlightenment, he was a prince, surrounded by luxury, and defined by the self that society had built for him. He was the epitome of what the world would call success—wealth, power, and status. Yet, despite all of this, he was plagued by the suffering of existence, the realization that even his position could not shield him from the ultimate truth of impermanence. It was only when he abandoned the illusions of his self, renounced his worldly attachments, and sat in meditation under the Bodhi tree that he came to realize the profound truth—that all compounded things, including the self, are subject to change and dissolution. But in this dissolution, there is freedom. There is truth, a truth that transcends the boundaries of the self.

The lesson from the Buddha’s words is clear: we must release our grip on the self—the fragile construct we hold so tightly to—and open ourselves to the deeper truths of existence. Suffering arises from our attachment to this illusion, and only by seeing through it can we find true peace. It is not in building our self through material wealth, social status, or the approval of others that we find happiness, but in the recognition that these things are fleeting and ultimately insubstantial. The true essence of our being lies beyond the self, in the boundless nature of the universe and the eternal truth of our interconnectedness.

To walk this path, we must first become aware of the ways in which we cling to the self. Let go of the need to define yourself through possessions, achievements, or labels. Instead, cultivate awareness, presence, and mindfulness in each moment. Recognize the impermanence of all things and embrace the truth that lies beneath the surface of self—the truth that connects us all. By doing so, we move closer to the wisdom of the Buddha, who taught that in letting go of the self, we find the ultimate liberation, where truth is not something we create, but something we come to realize as we dissolve the illusion of separation and live in harmony with the greater whole.