Can the eye see itself? Only in the mirror – never directly. But due to the objects it is seeing, the eye naturally knows that it exists, it doesn’t need to see itself to get confirmation of its own existence. Even if the eyelids are closed, even if there is complete darkness around, still there is a confirmation through seeing the darkness (which is nothing else than the absence of light).
Can the I see itself? Only in the mirror – never directly. The mirror being the metaphor for the world of senses, for that which appears to exist to our mind and body. Can this mirror exist without the one looking into the mirror? Can it reflect anything without one being reflected?
If I refer to my body, I will say “my body”, not “I body”. If I speak about my mind, I will say “my mind”, not “I mind”. The same is applicable to emotions, to states, to feelings – to our whole experience. And yet, I am constantly identifying with this body-mind structure and its movements and actions, playing this game of “I did that, I am thinking this, I am feeling that…”. Where is that I that is claiming all of it? Can that I be seen? Where is the I that sees through the eye?
Zhuangzi dreamed he was a butterfly, fluttering freely and unaware he was Zhuangzi. Upon waking, he found himself solidly human again but became uncertain: he did not know whether he was Zhuangzi who had dreamed he was a butterfly, or a butterfly now dreaming he was Zhuangzi.
Which I wakes up in the morning and is aware of its own existence? And did this I exist while the body-mind was in a deep sleep without dreams? And where was this I while I was dreaming? Is that the same I or are they many Is? Is there one waking I, one dreaming I, one I that performs actions, one that observes? How many Is are there in the I? And who is asking these questions? And who reads them?
What sees through physical eyes and who thinks through the mind? Can this I be aware of itself and if yes, of what it is aware? Can this I be seen, without a mirror? If yes, would it be awakened to itself?