Question about Buddhism and Eastern Spiritualism: I am having difficulties understanding what ones True Self..?

is supposed to be, if not ones body or individual soul(like in Christianity)?





It seems they are speaking about some other part of us which is eternal and unchanging, like some kind of universal soul, which is the base of all things??? formless consciousness???


And so one can when liberated, even watch ones own death calmly, because ones true self is not the body and liberation has cleared this ignorance.


any help understanding this better????





2nd Question:


They also speak of Being, to simply be. watching one self and body from a detached position(as ones TRUE SELF?), and simply experiencing or existing. What does it mean to simply BE??


Is it to have awareness that one exists???





Can anyone clear up these two question for me??


English is not my mother tongue.Question about Buddhism and Eastern Spiritualism: I am having difficulties understanding what ones True Self..?
In the West, we have the idea that the soul is eternal, individual, and a personality--what you are but without a physical body. There are some Eastern religions that sort of believe this: that the soul survives the death of the body and lives in some blissful state forever.





Other Eastern beliefs, such as those ofr Advaita Vedanta, Kashmir Shaivism, and Buddhism in its many forms, have a different idea of what the ';true self'; is. And they differ among themselves. Simply put, these systems do not believe in an everlasting individual soul. They talk about merging into ';pure consciousness'; or ';pure being'; or ';suchness.'; The metaphor of a movie screen is used to describe it. A movie screen is a changeless blank screen--this is the ';true self.'; On it, fleeing images are projected. This is the world of name and form, sense and sense objects and the idea of self as a soul and personality.





Through spiritual practices, a person can learn things about their personality and mind and then may undergo profound changes so that they experience themselves and reality in a different way. They become their ';true self'; and identify more with the screen on which the play of life is projected than the play itself.





In my opinion, its good to explore these issues but not overinterpret the texts. People are trying to explain an inexplicable mystical experience. You'll know it if and when you see it. In the end, one must be simply content with living.Question about Buddhism and Eastern Spiritualism: I am having difficulties understanding what ones True Self..?
You are on the right track!





Your body and mind are not true you. You only utilize your body and mind come to this life to do things you have to do. Your body is just a vehicle. However, don't get me wrong; this does not mean that you don't have to take care of your body.





Your consciousness is carried through lives only through different appearances of you body. Have you heard Samadi occurred in meditation? In that stage, you are no longer attached to your body. It's like you are watching you meditating as a third person. Even if your legs hurt, it's not bothering you at all.





When you die, the real you is going to leave your body. It is not only happening in death, but also during the time you are in a deep awareness.





That's why in Buddhism, detachment is emphasized, because even your body is not you. We often are very attached to our bodies, we hurt when we have more wrinkles. We hurt when we get one scar on face. We cling to our bodies too much as if they are permanent with us. However, our bodies are not.





Being means to be mindful. For example, we often do routines without mindfulness at all. We can do it because the repetitions. We often ignore to see, taste, listen, smell, or feel things much. We let everything pass. We are not fully LIVING.





To be mindful, for example, you peel tangerine piece by piece, feel the peel touches your fingers, the smell of the peel extract out when peeled, you separate each piece, put it one by one in your mouth, you chew it and taste the flavor of it fully. Even this simple thing can make you be mindful and aware of you body movement. Watch every move you are making. Pay attention to your body. When you are mindful to your body, you have much less chance of hurting yourself, bumping into something, or making any wrong move.





You life will be better, because you are aware of your body, mind, and environment. Less likely you would say things to hurt people or do things regretful.
Generally it is a reference to having a passive awareness of ones self.
Yeah, you know all that stuff that ISN'T you? The stuff that surrounds you and was here long before you were? There's no difference between your ';true self'; and all that.
Our true self is the eternal Buddha Nature, and a state of perfect pure consciousness.