Solipsism: A Theory Holding That the Self Can Know Nothing but Its Own Modifications and That the Self Is the Only Existent Thing. Extreme Egocentrism.
This definition is perfectly accurate, including “extreme egocentrism”.
How so?
A Theory.
Right from the start - solipsism is a theory. A thought. It is not seen, not perception, not a thing, not an object of consciousness. It is equal to nationalism, atomism, totalitarianism, accidentalism, and Last Thursdayism - appearing thoughts that do not define, separate, or divide perception ‘and’ feeling.
Solipsism as "true" is not found - it is only a belief in, of, as appearing thoughts. There is no more weight to the belief in solipsism than to the belief in a finite separate self.
"That the self can know…"
To know implies separation - a subject that knows and an object that is known.
This implied separation appears only as thoughts; it is not found in perception ‘or’ feeling.
Knowing, as typically conceived, is an assumption - an appearing thought that implies separation - a knower apart from what is known.
“Yeah, but infinite consciousness is knowing - it is pure knowingness!”
Here, "knowing" must be clarified.
If "knowing" is meant as a subject-object relationship, then it is no different than solipsism itself - just appearing thoughts.
If "knowing" is meant as the direct experience of being, then it is not something done by a separate self - it simply is.
Awareness is already aware, fundamentally and unconditionally.
Knowing is not separate from awareness. It does not belong to a knower or imply a subject-object relationship. It simply appears within awareness, inseparable from awareness aware of ‘it’. The thought of a "knowing self" is just that - a thought appearing within what already is.
Infinite consciousness does not know itself in the way (in accordance with thought) a subject knows an object. It simply is - already - itself. The assumption of a knowing self arises as a thought, but the thought does not divide perception ‘and’ feeling.
"…the self can know nothing but its own modifications…"
If modifications are not separate from infinite consciousness, then there is no actual subject-object relationship between a knower and modifications. In direct experience, the thought of such a relationship appears, but this thought does not divide or define perception ‘or’ feeling.
Since "knower" and "knowing" are only appearing thoughts, the supposed finite separate self that knows or is knowing its own modifications is never actually found. It is not that solipsism is "wrong" in the conventional sense - it is that there is no actual self, separate from infinite consciousness, to hold or validate the belief, nor is infinite consciousness knowing or knowingness.
This is the illusion of ignorance - thoughts appearing as "knowledge" of a separate self, and therein believed.
The hand cannot separate from ‘itself’ to observe or know ‘itself’.
The eyes cannot see ‘themselves’.
The tip of a finger cannot touch ‘itself’.
Such is the nature of infinite consciousness; it is not split into a knower and known.
"… and that the self is the only existent thing."
Infinite consciousness only seems to be a "thing" when thought appears - through the illusion of a separate finite self that assumes it knows about infinite consciousness.
But this separate self, and the belief in its knowledge, is only appearing thoughts.
This is where the lens-sphere and world-sphere clarify the situation.
The lens-sphere: The immediate experience - awareness itself, unfiltered and unmodified.
The world-sphere: The unfolding of reality as it appears.
This distinction is not absolute, it is simply a way to describe experience without implying separation, as the spheres (‘This’) are Being’s being.
Where, in either sphere, is the separate self that "knows"?
Where, in direct experience, is a knower apart from the knowing?
Where Is This "Knowing" During Sleep?
The “solipsist” might argue that solipsism is true because no external reality is experienced apart from the self.
But what happens in deep sleep?
Where is the "knowing self"?
There is no experience of subject and object.
There is no thinker.
Yet, upon waking, the dream-world appears, the so-called "external world" appears, and thoughts about solipsism appear.
If knowing were possessed by a separate self, where is it during sleep?
Does knowing disappear? If so, does the self disappear?
The answer is not that the self disappears - but that a separate self never existed in the first place.
What is present before, during, and after sleep is simply this, without a subject-object divide, without any separation at all.
Where Do These Concepts of Solipsism, Knowing, and the Known Arise?
Do they arise from the lens-sphere? No, because the lens-sphere is not divided into concepts. It is simply the empty awareness in which thoughts appear.
Do they arise from the world-sphere? No, because the world-sphere is just what is appearing, not a thinker, knower or understander.
So where does the belief ‘solipsism’ come from?
The thought of solipsism appears within the lens-sphere, just as the world-sphere appears - inseparable from it.
But the appearing thought does not divide, does not define, does not separate.
And so, much like the hand trying to grasp itself, solipsism is actually a self-defeating concept.
A misunderstanding, a belief.
What About the Appearance of Thought?
One might ask:
If there is no separate self, why do thoughts appear at all?
If there is no knower, then who is thinking?
Thoughts arise spontaneously - just as wind moves, just as waves form, just as the sun shines. There is no thinker behind thoughts, no separate self causing them. Thought is not proof of a knower, just as the wind is not proof of a separate "wind-maker."
Thoughts, including the thought of solipsism, appear, shift, dissolve - none of them establishing a self such as a knower.
What About This Very Writing?
If solipsism is just a thought, and if there is no separate self, then who is writing this?
This writing is simply appearing. No separate self is writing it, just as no separate self is reading it. There is only this.
The desire to clarify, the words forming, the unfolding of this moment - it is all happening effortlessly, without a "someone" doing it.
And so, the very act of trying to "debunk" solipsism is not the effort of a separate individual - it is the natural clearing away of a potential belief that in truth - never actually existed.
In Summary.
Solipsism is a thought - an appearance, no different than any other thought. It does not separate or define perception ‘or’ feeling.
The idea that a finite separate self "knows" is also a thought.
Infinite consciousness does not "know" itself as a separate subject and object. It simply is.
Just as the ears do not hear themselves, just as the eyes do not see themselves, just as the hand cannot grasp itself - solipsism, a belief in a separate knower, collapses.
Awareness is not separate from knowing; knowing appears within awareness.
Where is the knower?
Where does solipsism arise?
If no separate self is found… what remains?