Let us go over the core knowledge ( if it can be called that) once again. Firstly, this knowledge must not be approached from a viewpoint of an individual acquiring the knowledge. It can only be deeply and consciously understood, somewhat like a drum beat causing vibration of the body in tune with the beat, somewhat like a resonance. In the depths of Enquiry, the mind and breath become still.
Firstly, starting with what I appear to be, I must investigate backwards or regress. Keeping it simple and within the framework of the mind and concepts, would be the initial approach of an earnest seeker. A seeker with only the earnest desire to Know and not to gain anything from the knowledge. This body that I take myself to be, what is it? It is made up of cells and various other elements. Breaking it down, and going to a microscopic structure, the cells themselves are made up of atoms and molecules. The atoms and molecules are composed of various elements (yes, similar to the Periodic table of elements that you learnt in chemistry!). The elements would be oxygen( called Air by the ancients), water, various elements like carbon, iron, etc.( called Earth by the ancients). All of these are interacting in various chemical reactions all the time to create heat (or as the ancients called it "Fire"). In addition, an atom consists of neutrons and electrons and mostly space in between ( perhaps the ancients may have called it Ether or Space). In addition to these five elements, the various Gunas or attributes ( sattva, rajas and tamas) give each body a unique character. The combination of the above five elements and the gunas, in millions of permutations and combinations gives each body a unique character and nature of behaviour. Ok, What else?
Obviously, in addition to the above there are the three states of waking, dream sleep and deep sleep, and the life breath ( or Prana). There is still something more to make this body a sentient body. That is the knowledge or sense of existence, the knowledge " I am". The knowledge "I am", combined with the five elements, life breath, and the three states of waking, dream sleep and deep sleep make up this sentient body with the permutations and combinations of Gunas giving each body an unique character. In all of this, did you notice there is NO individual mentioned anywhere.
So, where did the individual come into the picture? The individual is nothing more than the thought " I am this body". It is all a story, an imaginary story of an entity, a person with a name, all being played in the mind. This story would not play if there was no sense of existence or "I am" or Life or whatever you want to call IT. The mind is nothing but a bundle of thoughts having no independent existence whatsoever apart from the "I am" or consciousness. Therefore, it becomes clear from the above discussion, that there is actually no individual. All there is, is a bundle of 5 elements, prana, the 3 gunas and the states of sleep and waking and the " I am". Where are YOU( John Doe or Jane Doe) in all of this? Think, Think again, deeply and consciously!!
