user23886: I am trying my best to digest the concept of the non-self but each time it hits a fundumental question, that i can't stop thinking of. If the self is an illusion, what is the point of self awerness meaning self respect, self esteem... is it important to have them in this context.

user13709: A baby doesn't think of identity, of self or of non-self. A baby doesn't think of self-respect or self-esteem, but a baby isn't enlightened either:

MN64:3.3: For a little baby doesn’t even have a concept of ‘identity’, so how could identity view possibly arise in them?
MN64:3.4: Yet the underlying tendency to identity view still lies within them.

In MN64, the Buddha teaches about the five lower fetters. Identity view is the first fetter.

MN64:5.2: Their heart is overcome and mired in identity view,
MN64:5.3: and they don’t truly understand the escape from identity view that has arisen.
MN64:5.4: That identity view is reinforced in them, not eliminated: it is a lower fetter.
MN64:5.5: Their heart is overcome and mired in doubt,
MN64:5.6: and they don’t truly understand the escape from doubt that has arisen.
MN64:5.7: That doubt is reinforced in them, not eliminated: it is a lower fetter.

Identity view is a problem because it taints our interactions, making them cumbersome and lopsided. Identity view creates a problem of "me versus world".  For example, to say "always respect others" is a tainted view. To say "always respect yourself" is a tainted view. However, saying "respect the skillful" has no notion of self or non-self.

AN2.19:1.6: ‘Give up the unskillful.’
AN2.19:1.7: And if giving up the unskillful led to harm and suffering, I would not say:
AN2.19:1.8: ‘Give up the unskillful.’
AN2.19:1.9: But giving up the unskillful leads to welfare and happiness, so I say:
AN2.19:1.10: ‘Give up the unskillful.’
AN2.19:2.1: Mendicants, develop the skillful.

After deep meditation, I once went to my Roshi and bowed, saying, "there is no self." Roshi tapped me on the knee and said, "what is that?".

23886: <p>I am trying my best to digest the concept of the non-self but each time it hits a fundumental question, that i can't stop thinking of. If the self is an illusion, what is the point of self awerness meaning self respect, self esteem... is it important to have them in this context.</p>
 13709: <p>A baby doesn't think of identity, of self or of non-self. A baby doesn't think of self-respect or self-esteem, but a baby isn't enlightened either:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn64/en/sujato#mn64:3.3" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MN64:3.3</a>: For a little baby doesn’t even have a concept of ‘identity’, so how could identity view possibly arise in them?<br />
<a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn64/en/sujato#mn64:3.4" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MN64:3.4</a>: Yet the underlying tendency to identity view still lies within them.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In MN64, the Buddha teaches about the five lower fetters. Identity view is the first fetter.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn64/en/sujato#mn64:5.2" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MN64:5.2</a>: Their heart is overcome and mired in identity view,<br />
<a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn64/en/sujato#mn64:5.3" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MN64:5.3</a>: and they don’t truly understand the escape from identity view that has arisen.<br />
<a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn64/en/sujato#mn64:5.4" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MN64:5.4</a>: That identity view is reinforced in them, not eliminated: it is a lower fetter.<br />
<a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn64/en/sujato#mn64:5.5" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MN64:5.5</a>: Their heart is overcome and mired in doubt,<br />
<a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn64/en/sujato#mn64:5.6" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MN64:5.6</a>: and they don’t truly understand the escape from doubt that has arisen.<br />
<a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn64/en/sujato#mn64:5.7" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MN64:5.7</a>: That doubt is reinforced in them, not eliminated: it is a lower fetter.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Identity view is a problem because it taints our interactions, making them cumbersome and lopsided. Identity view creates a problem of &quot;me versus world&quot;.  For example, to say &quot;always respect others&quot; is a tainted view. To say &quot;always respect yourself&quot; is a tainted view. However, saying &quot;respect the skillful&quot; has no notion of self or non-self.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://suttacentral.net/an2.19/en/sujato#an2.19:1.6" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN2.19:1.6</a>: ‘Give up the unskillful.’<br />
<a href="https://suttacentral.net/an2.19/en/sujato#an2.19:1.7" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN2.19:1.7</a>: And if giving up the unskillful led to harm and suffering, I would not say:<br />
<a href="https://suttacentral.net/an2.19/en/sujato#an2.19:1.8" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN2.19:1.8</a>: ‘Give up the unskillful.’<br />
<a href="https://suttacentral.net/an2.19/en/sujato#an2.19:1.9" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN2.19:1.9</a>: But giving up the unskillful leads to welfare and happiness, so I say:<br />
<a href="https://suttacentral.net/an2.19/en/sujato#an2.19:1.10" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN2.19:1.10</a>: ‘Give up the unskillful.’<br />
<a href="https://suttacentral.net/an2.19/en/sujato#an2.19:2.1" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN2.19:2.1</a>: Mendicants, develop the skillful.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>After deep meditation, I once went to my Roshi and bowed, saying, &quot;there is no self.&quot; Roshi tapped me on the knee and said, &quot;what is that?&quot;.</p>
