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Psychedelic Salon

Podcast 693 – The Braided Self

Feb 12, 2024
Psychedelic researcher and author James Fadiman discusses the concept of the 'self' as a collection of personalities, challenging the idea of a unified self. He explores monotheism in different religions, personality theories, multiple personalities emerging from childhood trauma, and the collaboration with psychotherapists to navigate the psyche. Fadiman also discusses radical transpersonal theory suggesting the mind can exist independently of the body, drawing insights from Buddhist perspectives and belief systems like Christianity.
43:30

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The self is not a unified entity but a collection of diverse personalities, challenging traditional views of individual identity.
  • The concept of the braided self offers a new perspective, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and appreciating the diverse aspects of oneself for personal growth.

Deep dives

The Radically Different View of Self

In this podcast episode, the speaker presents a radical idea that challenges traditional theories of self. He discusses how the Western tradition views the self as a unified individual, while the Buddhist doctrine argues for the absence of self. The speaker introduces the concept of the braided self, suggesting that individuals are not a single unified self but rather a collection of diverse personalities or strands. He explores the evidence of this idea by examining cases of multiple personality disorder, where individuals exhibit different personalities with distinct characteristics. The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing and appreciating the different aspects of oneself, seeing them as a team with each part contributing its unique strengths and abilities.

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