Self definitions

 

 

 

The New Oxford Dictionary defines ‘self’ as:

 

A person’s essential being that distinguishes them from others,

A person’s particular nature or personality,

The qualities that make a person individual and unique.

 

 

Wikipedia defines ‘self’ as:

 

The self is the subject of one's own experience of phenomena, such as perception, emotions and thoughts.

 

 

The Buddha never defined (the) ‘self’ (Sanskrit: atma). He merely stated that (the) ‘self’ was not abiding, i.e. permanent (to wit, all emerged phenomena are anatta, i.e. without (abiding) self).

 

 

Victor’s definition of ‘self’:

 

A set of adaptation rules (that serves survival).

One’s adaptation state, to wit, ‘I am (i.e. my self is) how I have adapted’.

 

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