Reference: THE STRUCTURE OF “I”
Awareness of a thought exists within that thought and not somewhere outside of it, just like the mass of a particle exists within the particle and not outside of it. Any duality assumed in terms of observer and observed is like assuming a duality between a particle and mass.
When a bunch of thoughts come together, a center of thought develops among them, much like the idea of “center of mass” of an object in Physics.
Each particle has its own mass. When a bunch of particles come together, each particle still has its own mass, but a center of mass may be assumed for the combined mass of the particles. Because the idea of “center of mass” appears to be separate from each particle, we may assume a duality between a particle and mass.
Similarly, each thought has its own awareness. When a bunch of thoughts come together, each thought still has its own awareness but a center of awareness may be assumed for the combined awareness of the thoughts. Because the “center of awareness” appears to be separate from each thought, we assume a duality between a thought and awareness.
The infinite regress attached to the idea of “observer” is the result of this assumption of duality between the observed and the observer. This is just an assumption and it is not the reality. When we don’t assume this duality the conundrum of infinite regression goes away. We may try to resolve the infinite regression by saying that awareness is “I,” but this simply sweeps the problem under the carpet of subjectivity.
“I” is simply a convenient way of addressing the property of awareness, just like the concept of “center of mass” is a convenient was of addressing the property of mass in physics.
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