“I” Was Just Imagination...

Imagine right now, a purple hippopotamus, with
polka dots. This is a made up image in the “mind”, a
construction, and not anything in “reality”. Now look
at the thought that there is of yourself, the “I”
thought. That thought is no more valid than the
purple polka-dotted hippo. In both cases thinking
was involved in bringing it into view. In both cases
imagination was what was necessary to invent the
image.
The picture of “you” may seem more familiar
because similar images have been seen, but this
image right now is only a construction made from
ideas arising about who you are, not about reality.
These thoughts come up in the present moment,
based on memories, which are being played out in
the present moment. This is why the idea of “me”
seems to have a basis, is that memory seems to hold
the story of a person, the continuation of being in
place.

Hillbilly Enlightenment
p.46