What is the Self?

SAND USA - Oct 23th-25th, 2015, San Jose, CA

Mystics in all ages and cultures describe the self as infinite, stable and ever-present phenomena. Modern physics describe the world as a self-moving, self-designing pattern, an undivided wholeness, a dance. We, as a society, relate to the self mostly as an individual, unique, time bound form. Our common sense, as individuals and society, hasn't caught up with this picture and it still based on long-held biases and stories. The Earth is clearly round but we still act as if it was flat...

We live at the dawn of a scientific revolution, every day brings new findings from a wide range of scientific disciplines about what it means to be human. Modern science now gives us the detailed descriptions of the mechanisms our brain needs to construct what we call the self.

Could it be this illusionary image of ourselves as separate beings that is keeping us in this perpetual state of anxiety, scarcity, fear, dissatisfaction and leading us, as a society, at this very delicate point in evolution?

Video by: Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo

[remixxster]

If Morgan Freeman would've voiced this, this would've been global.

[yohoniamartin]

This is really dramatic, emotional even, good information

[MontyHerron]

Ciao Maurizzio! I have watched this 3 times, and all three times I have sat back closed my eyes and let the tears flow at the immense beauty, possibility, the flow, and connect that this new story has for 'WE'. Brava!

[nerad]

Your conscious experience is your own personal reflection of the entire universe.

[rajadasworld]

The entire universe exists in my consciousness. If I alter my consciousness even by 1 degree, my entire universe changes. It is "I" that determines my reality and it is "me" that can expand from the quantum to the cosmos. Everything is in me. And this me is the essence that remains when you removes all those billions of bacteria in my ecosystem and all you are left with is nothing but me. And that me is that which is everything.

[GeneralLeeAdyck]

As the astronomer Carl Sagan said, “We live on this lone rock, circling a star, which is one of 400 billion stars comprising our galaxy, which is one of billions of galaxies comprising our universe, which is possibly not even the only universe out there” and that, is a perspective on human life well worth pondering upon well we celebrate the mystery of the self.

[Yoshiling]

This was absolutely incredible. Thank you for posting!!

[DLBurggraf]

The Self cannot be known as an object.
It is the substratum of every thought gross or subtle.
To realize it brings immediate happiness.
Happiness is what is happening now.  

[mountains]

Hi Maurizio, Thank you so much for this powerful video. I have listened to it time and time again and emerge with a deep sense of love and gratitude for all that comprises the organism that l am. And what this means for intimacy within as well as, without.

[Flu_Tang_Clan]

Discovering this video was an essential stepping stone for me, and that was years ago.
Glad that I stumbled onto it once again.

[vibhor]

The Bhagawat Gita explains the 'self' as beautifully as no other . Considered as India's jewel of Spiritual Wisdom

[CLEANDrumCovers]

Excellent spirit, my friend. This short video was as inspiring as it gets.

[arbenhajra]

when you find out what you are...you are going to find out that you are outside of your body, , , you will find out that you are everywhere...

[shunyam]

Ciao Maurizio! I have read a little bit of your "story" in your old site, it moved me a lot. A good friend of mine, Paul Lowe, just said: "...so make sure you do everything you want to do, go everywhere you want to go, and meet everyone you want to meet..." And you did it, Maurizio, and you do it. Feeling a deep vibration with you, I come from Trieste, the sister city of Genova, a lot of resonance is here...even the sadness for your Samp and my Inter too,

[awreeve]

Maurizio and Zaya, Love everything about 'What is the Self?' video. From your shining face, videography, music and words. I'm all smiles! Hugs, April

[jonasrosen]

this video is phenomenal. The words are brilliant and the composition makes it even more compelling.

If only more people thought this way instead of wallowing in ego-land the world would be a better place. 

[scienceandnonduality]

Thanks Blanche. It's an honor to read your comment...
Love, M

[tamsinthai]

Beautiful imagery. Breathtaking. Thanks.

[ferdinandalexander]

Thought creates the illusion of separation. There is no individual self separate and apart from the totality of life.

[hattube]

This is the highest view of existence that can be taken, pointing towards the highest truth.