[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.33,0:00:13.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thanks very much.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.52,0:00:17.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm not going to beat Gregory with his\Nsaxophone for sure, but bear with me.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.15,0:00:21.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This might be - no, it won't be remotely\Nas interesting, as good or entertaining.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.36,0:00:23.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Is there a real you?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.77,0:00:26.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This might seem to you\Nlike a very odd question.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.48,0:00:28.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because, you might ask,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.71,0:00:31.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how do we find the real you,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.04,0:00:33.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how do you know what the real you is?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.30,0:00:34.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so forth.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.35,0:00:37.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the idea\Nthat there must be a real you,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.18,0:00:38.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,surely that's obvious.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.74,0:00:41.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If there's anything real in the world,\Nit's you.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.01,0:00:44.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, I'm not quite sure.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.11,0:00:46.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At least we have to understand\Na bit better what that means.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.96,0:00:50.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now certainly, I think there are\Nlots of things in our culture around us
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.39,0:00:52.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which sort of reinforce the idea
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.50,0:00:56.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that for each one of us,\Nwe have a kind of a core, an essence.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.06,0:00:59.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is something about what it means\Nto be you which defines you,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.39,0:01:01.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's kind of permanent and unchanging.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.62,0:01:03.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The most kind of crude way\Nin which we have it,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.99,0:01:05.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are things like horoscopes.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.61,0:01:08.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, people are very wedded\Nto these, actually.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.22,0:01:10.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People put them on their Facebook profile
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.61,0:01:12.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as though they are meaningul,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.09,0:01:14.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you even know\Nyour Chinese horoscope as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.24,0:01:16.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are also more scientific\Nversions of this,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.67,0:01:19.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all sorts of ways of profiling\Npersonality type,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.70,0:01:22.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,such as the Myers-Briggs tests,\Nfor example.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.52,0:01:24.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't know if you've done those.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.16,0:01:26.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A lot of companies\Nuse these for recruitment.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.24,0:01:28.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You answer a lot of questions,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.76,0:01:33.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this is supposed to reveal\Nsomething about your core personality.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.29,0:01:36.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And of course, the popular fascination\Nwith this is enormous.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.48,0:01:38.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In magazines like this, you'll see,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.26,0:01:41.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the bottom left corner,\Nthey'll advertise in virtually every issue
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.72,0:01:43.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some kind of personality thing.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.83,0:01:45.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if you pick up one of those magazines,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.90,0:01:47.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's hard to resist, isn't it?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.39,0:01:49.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Doing the test to find\Nwhat is your learning style,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.83,0:01:52.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what is your loving style,\Nor what is your working style?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.85,0:01:55.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Are you this kind of person or that?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.11,0:01:58.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I think that we have\Na common-sense idea
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.27,0:02:01.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that there is a kind of core\Nor essence of ourselves
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.65,0:02:03.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be discovered.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.20,0:02:06.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that this is kind of a permanent truth\Nabout ourselves,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.32,0:02:09.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,something that's the same throughout life.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.01,0:02:12.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, that's the idea I want to challenge.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.22,0:02:14.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I have to say now,\NI'll say it a bit later,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.81,0:02:17.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I'm not challenging this\Njust because I'm weird,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.51,0:02:20.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the challenge actually has a very,\Nvery long and distinguished history.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.99,0:02:22.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here's the common-sense idea.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.100,0:02:24.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is you.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.19,0:02:28.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You are the individuals you are,\Nand you have this kind of core.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.10,0:02:31.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now in your life, what happens\Nis that you, of course,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.92,0:02:34.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,accumulate different experiences\Nand so forth.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.72,0:02:36.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So you have memories,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.57,0:02:39.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and these memories\Nhelp to create what you are.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.47,0:02:41.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You have desires, maybe for a cookie,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.69,0:02:44.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe for something\Nthat we don't want to talk about
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.28,0:02:46.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at 11 o'clock in the morning in a school.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.45,0:02:47.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You will have beliefs.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.74,0:02:49.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a number plate\Nfrom someone in America.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.97,0:02:52.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't know whether this number plate,\Nwhich says "messiah 1,"
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.93,0:02:55.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,indicates that the driver\Nbelieves in the messiah,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.75,0:02:57.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or that they are the messiah.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.68,0:03:00.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Either way,\Nthey have beliefs about messiahs.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.66,0:03:02.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We have knowledge.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.12,0:03:04.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We have sensations\Nand experiences as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.38,0:03:06.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not just intellectual things.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.90,0:03:09.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this is kind of the common-sense model,\NI think,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.42,0:03:10.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of what a person is.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.65,0:03:16.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is a person who has all the things\Nthat make up our life experiences.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.19,0:03:19.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the suggestion\NI want to put to you today
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.08,0:03:22.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that there's something\Nfundamentally wrong with this model.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.35,0:03:24.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I can show you what's wrong\Nwith one click.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.93,0:03:30.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which is there isn't actually a "you"\Nat the heart of all these experiences.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.76,0:03:33.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Strange thought?\NWell, maybe not.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.63,0:03:34.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What is there, then?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.94,0:03:38.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, clearly there are memories,\Ndesires, intentions, sensations,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.19,0:03:39.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so forth.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.68,0:03:42.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what happens is\Nthese things exist,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.40,0:03:44.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they're kind of all integrated,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.60,0:03:47.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're overlapped, they're connected\Nin various different ways.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.95,0:03:50.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're connecting partly,\Nand perhaps even mainly,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.78,0:03:54.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they all belong\Nto one body and one brain.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.29,0:03:57.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But there's also a narrative,\Na story we tell about ourselves,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.19,0:04:00.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the experiences we have\Nwhen we remember past things.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.13,0:04:02.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We do things because of other things.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.54,0:04:06.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what we desire is partly\Na result of what we believe,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.24,0:04:09.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and what we remember is also\Ninforming us what we know.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.77,0:04:12.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so really, there are all these things,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.07,0:04:15.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like beliefs, desires,\Nsensations, experiences,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.00,0:04:17.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're all related to each other,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.68,0:04:20.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that just is you.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.29,0:04:26.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In some ways, it's a small difference\Nfrom the common-sense understanding.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.26,0:04:28.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In some ways, it's a massive one.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.22,0:04:30.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's the shift between\Nthinking of yourself
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.33,0:04:33.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a thing which has\Nall the experiences of life,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.73,0:04:36.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and thinking of yourself\Nas simply that collection
Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.53,0:04:38.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of all experiences in life.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.67,0:04:41.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You are the sum of your parts.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.07,0:04:43.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now those parts are also physical parts,\Nof course,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.87,0:04:45.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,brains, bodies and legs and things,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.92,0:04:47.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they aren't so important, actually.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.86,0:04:50.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you have a heart transplant,\Nyou're still the same person.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.45,0:04:53.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you have a memory transplant,\Nare you the same person?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.34,0:04:56.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you have a belief transplant,\Nwould you be the same person?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.39,0:05:00.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now this idea, that what we are,\Nthe way to understand ourselves,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.74,0:05:05.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is as not of some permanent being,\Nwhich has experiences,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.16,0:05:07.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but is kind of a collection\Nof experiences,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:07.99,0:05:10.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,might strike you as kind of weird.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.66,0:05:13.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But actually,\NI don't think it should be weird.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.00,0:05:14.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In a way, it's common sense.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.80,0:05:17.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because I just invite you to think about,\Nby comparison,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.72,0:05:21.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,think about pretty much anything else\Nin the universe,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.93,0:05:25.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe apart from the very\Nmost fundamental forces or powers.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.53,0:05:27.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's take something like water.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.78,0:05:30.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now my science isn't very good.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.19,0:05:32.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We might say something\Nlike water has two parts hydrogen
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.88,0:05:35.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and one parts oxygen, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.10,0:05:36.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We all know that.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.67,0:05:40.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I hope no one in this room\Nthinks that what that means
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.04,0:05:43.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is there is a thing called water,\Nand attached to it
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.89,0:05:46.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are hydrogen and oxygen atoms,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.86,0:05:48.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's what water is.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.16,0:05:49.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Of course we don't.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.60,0:05:52.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We understand, very easily,\Nvery straightforwardly,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.67,0:05:54.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that water is nothing more
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.35,0:05:58.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than the hydrogen and oxygen molecules\Nsuitably arranged.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.08,0:06:01.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Everything else in the universe\Nis the same.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.53,0:06:04.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's no mystery about my watch,\Nfor example.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.22,0:06:08.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We say the watch has a face, and hands,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.20,0:06:09.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a mechanism and a battery,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.90,0:06:11.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what we really mean is,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.35,0:06:13.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we don't think there is a thing\Ncalled the watch
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.62,0:06:15.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to which we then attach all these bits.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.49,0:06:18.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We understand very clearly\Nthat you get the parts of the watch,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.69,0:06:21.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you put them together,\Nand you create a watch.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:21.17,0:06:23.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now if everything else\Nin the universe is like this,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.64,0:06:25.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,why are we different?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.72,0:06:27.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why think of ourselves
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.39,0:06:31.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as somehow not just being\Na collection of all our parts,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.19,0:06:35.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but somehow being a separate,\Npermanent entity which has those parts?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.39,0:06:39.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now this view is not particularly new,\Nactually.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.28,0:06:40.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It has quite a long lineage.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.73,0:06:42.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You find it in Buddhism,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.34,0:06:44.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you find it in 17th,\N18th-century philosophy
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.98,0:06:48.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,going through to the current day,\Npeople like Locke and Hume.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.75,0:06:50.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But interestingly, it's also a view
Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.57,0:06:54.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,increasingly being heard\Nreinforced by neuroscience.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:54.93,0:06:58.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is Paul Broks,\Nhe's a clinical neuropsychologist,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.39,0:06:59.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he says this:
Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.82,0:07:02.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"We have a deep intuition\Nthat there is a core,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:02.46,0:07:04.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an essence there,\Nand it's hard to shake off,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.78,0:07:07.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,probably impossible to shake off,\NI suspect.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:07.69,0:07:11.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it's true that neuroscience shows\Nthat there is no centre in the brain
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.37,0:07:13.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where things do all come together."
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.92,0:07:16.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So when you look at the brain,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.26,0:07:20.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you look at how the brain\Nmakes possible a sense of self,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.14,0:07:23.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you find that there isn't\Na central control spot in the brain.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.98,0:07:27.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is no kind of center\Nwhere everything happens.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.04,0:07:29.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are lots of different processes\Nin the brain,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.67,0:07:32.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all of which operate, in a way,\Nquite independently.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.74,0:07:35.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it's because of the way\Nthat they relate
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.59,0:07:38.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we get this sense of self.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.05,0:07:41.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The term I use in the book,\NI call it the ego trick.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.41,0:07:46.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's like a mechanical trick.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.97,0:07:49.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not that we don't exist,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.35,0:07:52.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's just that the trick is\Nto make us feel that inside of us
Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.49,0:07:55.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is something more unified\Nthan is really there.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.62,0:07:58.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now you might think\Nthis is a worrying idea.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.86,0:08:01.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You might think that if it's true,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:01.40,0:08:05.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that for each one of us\Nthere is no abiding core of self,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:05.38,0:08:07.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,no permanent essence,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:07.23,0:08:11.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,does that mean that really,\Nthe self is an illusion?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.15,0:08:13.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Does it mean that we really don't exist?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.42,0:08:15.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is no real you.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:15.32,0:08:19.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, a lot of people actually\Ndo use this talk of illusion and so forth.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.20,0:08:22.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are three psychologists,\NThomas Metzinger, Bruce Hood,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:22.59,0:08:24.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Susan Blackmore,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.51,0:08:27.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a lot of these people\Ndo talk the language of illusion,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:27.68,0:08:29.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the self is an illusion, it's a fiction.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:29.100,0:08:32.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I don't think this is\Na very helpful way of looking at it.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.78,0:08:34.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Go back to the watch.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:34.35,0:08:37.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The watch isn't an illusion,\Nbecause there is nothing to the watch
Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.82,0:08:40.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,other than a collection of its parts.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:40.05,0:08:42.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the same way,\Nwe're not illusions either.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.61,0:08:47.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The fact that we are, in some ways,\Njust this very, very complex collection,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.55,0:08:49.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ordered collection of things,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.23,0:08:51.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,does not mean we're not real.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.25,0:08:54.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can give you a very\Nsort of rough metaphor for this.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:54.41,0:08:56.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's take something like a waterfall.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.64,0:08:59.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are the Iguazu Falls, in Argentina.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.52,0:09:02.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now if you take something like this,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.62,0:09:05.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can appreciate the fact\Nthat in lots of ways,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.37,0:09:07.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's nothing permanent about this.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.54,0:09:09.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For one thing, it's always changing.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.40,0:09:12.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The waters are always\Ncarving new channels.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:12.25,0:09:14.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with changes in tides and the weather,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.46,0:09:18.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some things dry up,\Nnew things are created.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:18.98,0:09:22.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Of course the water\Nthat flows through the waterfall
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.14,0:09:24.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is different at every single instance.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.58,0:09:28.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it doesn't mean\Nthat the Iguazu Falls are an illusion.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:28.22,0:09:30.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It doesn't mean it's not real.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.30,0:09:32.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What it means is\Nwe have to understand what it is
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.87,0:09:34.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as something which has a history,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.94,0:09:37.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has certain things that keep it together,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.49,0:09:40.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it's a process, it's fluid,\Nit's forever changing.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:40.59,0:09:43.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now that, I think, is a model\Nfor understanding ourselves,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.99,0:09:46.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I think it's a liberating model.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:46.17,0:09:49.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because if you think that you have\Nthis fixed, permanent essence,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.06,0:09:51.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is always the same,\Nthroughout your life, no matter what,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.87,0:09:54.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a sense you're kind of trapped.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.39,0:09:56.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're born with an essence,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:56.98,0:09:59.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's what you are until you die,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.52,0:10:02.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you believe in an afterlife,\Nmaybe you continue.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.67,0:10:05.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But if you think of yourself\Nas being, in a way,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:05.41,0:10:08.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not a thing as such,\Nbut a kind of a process,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.76,0:10:11.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,something that is changing,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:11.00,0:10:13.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then I think that's quite liberating.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.14,0:10:15.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because unlike the the waterfalls,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:15.48,0:10:17.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we actually have the capacity to channel
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.83,0:10:21.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the direction of our development\Nfor ourselves to a certain degree.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:21.91,0:10:23.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now we've got to be careful here, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.94,0:10:27.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you watch the X-Factor too much,\Nyou might buy into this idea
Dialogue: 0,0:10:27.15,0:10:29.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we can all be whatever we want to be.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.67,0:10:31.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's not true.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:31.01,0:10:33.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've heard some fantastic musicians\Nthis morning,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.51,0:10:36.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I am very confident\Nthat I could in no way be as good as them.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:36.99,0:10:39.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I could practice hard and maybe be good,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:39.38,0:10:42.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I don't have\Nthat really natural ability.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.27,0:10:44.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are limits to what we can achieve.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.79,0:10:47.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are limits to\Nwhat we can make of ourselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:47.35,0:10:49.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But nevertheless, we do have this capacity
Dialogue: 0,0:10:49.86,0:10:53.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to, in a sense, shape ourselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:54.04,0:10:56.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The true self, as it were then,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.36,0:11:00.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is not something that is just there\Nfor you to discover,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:00.12,0:11:03.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you don't sort of look into your soul\Nand find your true self.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.70,0:11:05.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What you are partly doing, at least,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:05.65,0:11:08.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is actually creating your true self.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:08.24,0:11:10.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this, I think, is very,\Nvery significant,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:10.36,0:11:12.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,particularly\Nat this stage of life you're at.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:12.53,0:11:14.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You'll be aware of the fact
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.08,0:11:16.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how much of you changed over recent years.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.10,0:11:19.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you have any videos of yourself,\Nthree or four years ago,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:19.06,0:11:22.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you probably feel embarrassed\Nbecause you don't recognize yourself.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:22.64,0:11:25.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I want to get that message over,\Nthat what we need to do
Dialogue: 0,0:11:25.84,0:11:28.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is think about ourselves as things\Nthat we can shape,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:28.59,0:11:29.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and channel and change.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:29.90,0:11:31.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the Buddha, again:
Dialogue: 0,0:11:31.44,0:11:33.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Well-makers lead the water,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.26,0:11:34.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fletchers bend the arrow,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:34.81,0:11:36.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,carpenters bend a log of wood,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.84,0:11:40.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wise people fashion themselves."
Dialogue: 0,0:11:40.60,0:11:42.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's the idea\NI want to leave you with,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:42.96,0:11:48.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that your true self is not something\Nthat you will have to go searching for,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:49.13,0:11:51.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a mystery, and maybe never ever find.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:51.90,0:11:54.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To the extent you have a true self,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:54.34,0:11:56.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's something that you in part discover,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:56.82,0:11:59.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but in part create.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.32,0:12:03.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that, I think,\Nis a liberating and exciting prospect.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:04.01,0:12:05.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you very much.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:05.58,0:12:07.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)