Deconstructing Yourself Nonduality and the Ego with Jake Orthwein
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Sep 21, 2025 Jake Orthwein, a Brooklyn-based filmmaker and dharma student known for 'Unraveling the Dream,' dives deep into the nature of the self. He and host Michael Taft explore the delicate balance between a functional ego and ego identification. They discuss the concepts of no-self and emptiness, revealing how meditation and psychedelics can lead to ego dissolution. Orthwein shares insights on Buddha-nature vs. True Self, and the importance of maintaining a healthy ego when pursuing nondual experiences. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation!
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Self As A Construct, Not An Entity
- Michael Taft argues that anatta (no-self) means the sense of self is a constructed, impermanent process rather than an enduring entity.
- He emphasizes we identify with that construction and react as if it were a permanent soul, causing suffering.
Emptiness Extends Beyond Personhood
- Taft distinguishes early Buddhism's anatta (people-focused) from later emptiness (applies to all phenomena).
- Emptiness generalizes non-separateness beyond persons to rocks, trees, and everything.
Use Social Moments To Gauge Identification
- Test your identification by intentionally embarrassing yourself and notice the intensity of reaction.
- If praise or shame strongly hooks you, that's evidence of being identified with the ego.
