The "mind" can be defined as the part of you that thinks.
Who would you be if you suddenly had complete amnesia? Answer: You would still be yourself, only now you would have no memory of the past or concern about the future. You would be utterly and completely experiencing the present moment with no preconceived ideas about who or what you are. You would just be pure awareness. Until, of course, you started ruminating on what happened five minutes ago.
The "self" is outside of the brain. You are still "yourself" no matter what is wrong with the brain. Everyone is insane to the degree that they are caught up in their ego (thinking they are their thoughts). The problem is that people think that their thoughts are who they are when who they are is actually the awareness behind their thoughts.
Okay. I'll try.
The "mind" can be defined as the part of you that thinks.
Who would you be if you suddenly had complete amnesia? Answer: You would still be yourself, only now you would have no memory of the past or concern about the future. You would be utterly and completely experiencing the present moment with no preconceived ideas about who or what you are. You would just be pure awareness. Until, of course, you started ruminating on what happened five minutes ago.
What about people with dementia or brain damage? They're not really themselves, are they?
The "self" is outside of the brain. You are still "yourself" no matter what is wrong with the brain. Everyone is insane to the degree that they are caught up in their ego (thinking they are their thoughts). The problem is that people think that their thoughts are who they are when who they are is actually the awareness behind their thoughts.