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FoxFoxFox

The allegory of closed fist

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I thought of this when I was contemplating and I thought to share. The purpose is to demonstrate that the Self is independent of states of consciousness. 

Clench your fist and bring it up to look at it. Imagine the hand to be the "I" - the first person pronoun that you use to identify with objects, feelings, and emotions. Imagine the act of clenching your fist to be the "am". Now imagine a state such as happiness or sadness, and imagine that you are tightly holding this state in your fist. This is analogous to saying "I am happy." or "I am sad." 

Now, once you are comfortable with this and can imagine it clearly, suddenly open your fist - which makes it so that the fist (the am) does not exist anymore. Not only have you let go of the state, but also you are only left with the "I".

Now lower your fist out of your vision and simply be. This is the Self.

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