' The Overself '...

Although the Overself does not pass through the diverse experiences of its imperfect image, the ego, nevertheless it witnesses them.

Although it is aware of the pain and pleasure experienced by the body which it is animating, it does not itself feel them; although detached from physical sensations, it is not ignorant of them.

On the other hand, the personal consciousness does feel them because it regards them as states of its own self.

Thus the Overself is conscious of our joys and sorrows without itself sharing them. It is aware of our sense-experience without itself being physically sentient.

Those who wonder how this is possible should reflect that a man awakened from a nightmare is aware once again in the form of a revived memory of what he suffered and what he sensed but yet does not share again either the suffering or the sensations.



-- Notebooks Category 22: Inspiration and the Overself >
Chapter 3: The Overself's Presence > # 337
Paul Brunton