the same sense of identity is a feeling due to “self” which exist in every chitta or thoughts.
When we were to meditate on “anicca” or “anatta” nature starting with breath or flow of fluids in body, arising and disappearing of thoughts as one of the object of contemplation, one can easily comprehend as under:
- There are mental impressions already existing – previous births, habits created in this life (Gati) and characteristics which is unique to that person. Let us call at as “vasana”
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Due to this, the being is attracted or repelled due to what he sees, hears, smells, touches, tastes and thinks. Now with this, there is a reaction based upon (1) above
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As an (re)action is taken there creates a “feeler I” [ vedana ] which stands out to compare with “perceiver I” [ sanna]
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As perceiver I stands out [ sanna ] it brings across comparison and that to operate at the optimum level requires “experiencer I” [ vinnana]
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With combination of Feeler, Perceiver and Experiencer, there arises the “Doer I” which is either taking action based upon past happenings or reacting due to first time experience of that happening.
All these 4 different “I” gives an impression of one un-changing self in everything we do as the thoughts already have in itself all these 4 different “I” categorised as ONE-SELF
To break this chain, the quickest is to look at the vedana or Feeler “I” and then apply panna or wisdom to gain ability in seeing “anicca” or “anatta” nature and thus breaking the bond of “tanha and “Upadana” which is cause of bhava and jati.
This is why, we see a continuous “self” and that is one reality which we see never changes.
Why would the Buddha suggest to make an island or refuge of ourselves when we would only be fleeting processes, without any stability?
This is because, the liberation is from the “self” identity and hence one has to make refuge as that “self also changes”