“If the body were the self…it would be possible (to say)…’Let my body be thus. Let my body not be thus’…If consciousness were the self…it would be possible (to say)…’Let my consciousness be thus. Let my consciousness not be thus.”
-Siddhartha Gautama
A very complex and discussed passage
But its simple observation
quite astounding
The self that controls not the self
Astounding…
The rage that burns
and drives my hand to strike
my mouth to speak
The mind that would control
and hold my hand
speak not the words
The pain that arrests
and drives my limbs to fail
my muscles to weakness
The mind that would control
and ignore the hurt of limbs
overcome the weakness
The sadness that torments
and drives my whole being to tears
my weakened body to despair
The mind that would control
and talk away tears
think away despair
The thoughts in my head
that drive me to belief
and send body into action
The mind that would control
and question from where come these thoughts
would ask whether actions justified
Passion, Pain, Emotion, Thought
so often make their claim and have their way
And these things then seen from outside
come so to define me
Yet they come not of choice
What of self
does self control
InitialDrafts 