BEN LOMOND, CA – On March 24, Jianhu Shifu, abbot of the Prajna Forest Monastery, delivered an insightful online lecture titled "Deconstructing the Self," the second installment in his ongoing "Understanding Our Mind" series. The lecture provided a profound exploration of how human consciousness fabricates a "false self," arguing that dismantling this illusion is the key to living a happier, higher-quality life. Jianhu Shifu began by grounding the audience in the foundational Buddhist concepts of the mind, contrasting "Knowing" (pure, non-judgmental direct experience, Chan tradition calls the "first thought") with "Consciousness" (the subjective, judging mind that processes experiences, discriminates, and generates emotions). He explained that while Knowing is always present and is equal in all sentient beings, our Consciousness is heavily shaped by our environment, past experiences, and habits. It is this ever-changing Consciousness that creates the narrow and incomplete concept of "I" or the "ego-self," which is ultimately rooted in “beginningless ignorance”. The core of the lecture focused on identifying the three blind spots that solidify this false sense of self and cause suffering: permanence, independence, and control. Because of the depth required to deconstruct these concepts, Shifu dedicated the remainder of this session exclusively to addressing the myth of permanence, noting that the topics of independence and control will be covered in future talks scheduled later in 2026 and onward. Addressing the myth of permanence, Shifu challenged the deeply ingrained belief that we possess a constant, unchanging inner core “self”. He pointed out that holding onto past grudges or trauma assumes the "I" who suffered in the past is the exact same "I" existing today. In reality, both our physical bodies—constantly undergoing cellular metabolism—and our mental states are entirely impermanent. Instead of a fixed entity, human existence is a "continuation of similar moments," constantly flowing and transforming like water. Shifu framed this impermanence as a profoundly positive concept, noting, "Every morning you wake up, it's a new self", which opens the door to countless future possibilities. The lecture concluded with a vibrant Q&A session focusing on practical applications of the teachings: •    Dealing with Distractions : When asked why the mind easily gets distracted during meditation, Shifu explained it is a symptom of our modern, overstimulated lives, specifically citing the short attention spans trained by social media platforms likeTwitter and later TikTok. To counter this, he suggested progressive training methods such as counting breaths, walking meditation, and making prostrations. •    Coping with Grief : Another participant asked how to cope with grief when the rational mind understands impermanence, but the emotional heart cannot let go. Shifu advised self-acceptance first (to avoid frustration with oneself), and that while adopting the "right view" of impermanence is the first step, aligning the heart requires cultivating "right thoughts" through repeated, patient practice—much like building muscle memory in sports or music—to gradually rewire old habits. •    The Power of Impermanence : Finally, Shifu reminded attendees that fully embracing impermanence keeps us anchored in the present moment, offering profound relief from suffering, boundless possibilities, and true peace of mind.