Whenever self-view arises, do not take it at face value. Instead, investigate how the mind has appropriated a conditioned experience and built a world of personal significance around it.

Begin by noticing the direct experience. Then observe how the mind immediately turns it into "me" or "mine." Finally, investigate whether what has arisen dependent upon causes and conditions is truly fit to be regarded as "mine."

Do not try to convince yourself that "there is no self." Simply see clearly what has been added to experience through self-making.

HUNGER, "I am hungry"

Direct experience

A hollow sensation in the stomach, unpleasant feeling, thoughts of food.

Self-making

The mind immediately claims the experience: "I am hungry."

Investigation

Notice that hunger has arisen dependent upon causes and conditions. The body requires nourishment, unpleasant feeling has arisen, and craving wants the feeling to end. Then notice the extra movement that turns this into "my hunger."

Ask yourself:

Notice that suffering increases through ownership rather than through hunger itself.

ANGER, "I am angry"

Direct experience

Heat, tension, unpleasant feeling, hostile thoughts.

Self-making

The mind immediately establishes, "I am angry."

Investigation

Notice that anger has arisen dependent upon contact, perception, feeling, and craving. Then see how quickly the mind builds an identity around it.

Ask yourself:

Notice the difference between anger arising and becoming "an angry person."

PAIN, "My knee hurts"

Direct experience

Pressure, throbbing, burning, unpleasant feeling.

Self-making

The mind immediately says, "This is my pain."

Investigation

Pain has arisen because conditions support it.

Then notice everything added by self-making:

Notice how the burden comes from claiming the pain.

Ask:

PLEASURE, "I am enjoying this"

Direct experience

Pleasant feeling, ease, comfort.

Self-making

The mind immediately establishes ownership.

"I want this to continue."

Investigation

Pleasure has arisen because supporting conditions are present.

Notice how quickly craving begins constructing a future around it.

Ask:

THOUGHTS, "I am thinking"

Direct experience

Thoughts, images, memories, planning.

Self-making

The mind immediately assumes there is a thinker behind the thoughts.

Investigation

Notice that thoughts simply arise according to conditions.

Then notice the added assumption that there must be an owner producing them.

Ask:

DECISIONS, "I decided"

Direct experience

Intentions arise, alternatives are considered, a decision appears.

Self-making

"I am the one making this happen."

Investigation

Notice how intentions arise from previous habits, memories, values, perceptions, and present conditions.

Ask:

PRAISE, "I am admired"

Direct experience

Words are heard. Pleasant feeling arises.

Self-making

"My worth has increased."

Investigation

Notice how a few sounds quickly become a story about yourself.

See how the mind creates something to protect and preserve.

Ask:

FAILURE, "I failed"

Direct experience

An outcome did not meet expectations.

Unpleasant feeling arises.

Self-making

"I am a failure."

Investigation

Notice that an event has occurred.

Then watch the mind construct an identity from it.

Ask:

POSSESSIONS, "This is mine"

Direct experience

Seeing a house, phone, clothing, vehicle, or other possession.

Self-making

"This belongs to me."

Investigation

Notice that the object exists.

Ownership exists only through memory, agreement, and convention.

Then notice how an entire world appears:

See that suffering develops from this fabricated world rather than from the object itself.

Ask:

BODY IMAGE, "This is me"

Direct experience

Seeing the body.

Pleasant or unpleasant feelings arise.

Self-making

"This is who I am."

Investigation

Notice how quickly appearance becomes identity.

Ask:

FEAR, "I am in danger"

Direct experience

Tightness, rapid heartbeat, anxious thoughts.

Self-making

"I am threatened."

Investigation

Notice both the present experience and the imagined future the mind is creating.

Ask:

OPINIONS, "My view"

Direct experience

A thought or conclusion appears.

Self-making

"This is my view."

Investigation

Notice how quickly the mind begins defending an opinion as though it were defending itself.

Ask:

SUCCESS, "I achieved this"

Direct experience

Pleasant feeling after something goes well.

Self-making

"I succeeded."

Investigation

Notice how many causes and conditions contributed to the outcome.

Then notice how self-making gathers all those conditions into a single owner.

Ask:

SELF-REFERENCING, "What does this mean for me?"

Direct experience

A conversation, memory, event, or situation unfolds.

Self-making

Almost immediately the mind asks:

Investigation

Notice that these questions are not inherent in the experience itself.

They arise because the mind is interpreting everything through the underlying view of "I" and "mine."

Watch as an entire world of meaning, relevance, concern, hope, and fear is constructed around what was originally just a conditioned event.

Ask:

As this investigation is repeated, the perception of not-self gradually becomes established. The mind begins to distinguish between conditioned phenomena and the world of ownership, identity, and personal significance that self-making has fabricated around them. What was once automatically taken as "me" and "mine" is increasingly known as simply arising and ceasing according to conditions, not fit to be regarded as "mine."