Self as Nature & Thoughts: A Phenomenological Inquiry

This paper examines the relationship between self, thought, and direct experience through a phenomenological approach. It argues that life unfolds as an immediate, non-verbal movement, while thought emerges as a secondary process rooted in memory, language, and conditioning. The sense of “self” is investigated not as an inherent entity but as a construct arising through conceptual identification. By integrating insights from prior works on conditioning, identity, and consciousness, the study proposes that confusion between direct experience and thought-generated interpretation leads to psychological division. The paper concludes that understanding the limits of thought allows for a mode of living grounded in direct awareness rather than repetition.