In Zen, the concept of self is an illusion from "summary" of The Way of Zen by Alan Watts
The fundamental doctrine of Buddhism is that all conditioned things are impermanent. This includes all physical things, as well as all mental things, such as sensations, perceptions, thoughts, feelings, and consciousness itself. There is no permanent self that stands apart from this ceaseless flow of change. The doctrine of anatman, or "no-self," is not a mere theory, but a way of life that is to be realized in the depths of one's being. In Zen Buddhism, this realization is often brought about through the practice of meditation. By sitting quietly and observing the thoughts and sensations that arise in the mind, one comes to see that there is no fixed, unchanging self at the center of experience. Instead, there is a continuous process of becoming, in which everything is interconnected and interdependent. This realization is not a matter of intellectual understanding, but of direct insight into the nature of reality. It is a radical shift in perspective that can be disorienting and even frightening, as it undermines all our cherished notions of who we are and what we believe to be true. Yet, it is also profoundly liberating, as it opens up the possibility of living in harmony with the ever-changing flow of life. In Zen, the concept of self is seen as an illusion because it is based on a false sense of separateness and permanence. When we let go of this illusion, we come to see that we are not separate from the world around us, but intimately connected to it in every moment. Our sense of self expands to include the whole of existence, and we realize that there is no need to cling to any fixed identity. This insight is not a denial of the individual self, but a transcendence of it. We still have our unique personalities, with their own thoughts, feelings, and experiences. But we no longer identify with these as the core of who we are. Instead, we see ourselves as part of a larger whole, in which our individuality is just one thread in the vast tapestry of life. By letting go of our attachment to the self, we open ourselves up to a deeper experience of reality. We see that the boundaries between self and other are not as fixed as we once thought, and that our true nature is boundless and ever-changing. This realization is the heart of the Zen way, and the key to living a life of wisdom and compassion.
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