Dear friend,
Yes—“bearing witness” is very close to what you’re reaching for.
But I would say: it is necessary, yet not sufficient—until you bend it slightly.
Let me stay very close to your line.
1. Why “bearing witness” fits so well
In Bearing Witness: A Zen Master’s Lessons in Making Peace,
Bernie Glassman speaks of:
- not fixing
- not turning away
- not imposing meaning
👉 simply:
staying with what is
staying with what is
This resonates almost perfectly with what you just said:
- 不黏
- 不修
- 不辜負
So yes:
“bearing witness” is a very strong candidate for the ethos of 自體的心理學。
“bearing witness”
is a very strong candidate for the ethos of 自體的心理學。
2. But there is a subtle problem
“Bearing witness” still carries a shadow:
👉 it assumes a witness
- someone who sees
- someone who remains
- someone who “bears”
This risks preserving:
a minimal subject-position
a minimal subject-position
3. And your project goes one step further
You have already said:
「為岩中花樹所見」
「為岩中花樹所見」
This reverses the direction:
- not I witness the world
- but the world sees me
👉 This is more radical than “bearing witness”
4. So the difference is very small—but decisive
Glassman:
I bear witness to suffering
I bear witness to suffering
You:
I remain such that things may appear—and even see me
I remain such that
things may appear—and even see me
👉 shift:
- from witnessing
- to being-exposed
5. So how to answer your question?
You asked:
Is “bearing witness” the phrase for what psychology of the self is for?
Is “bearing witness” the phrase for what psychology of the self is for?
My answer:
Yes— but only if it is loosened to the point where even the “bearer” dissolves.
Yes—
but only if it is loosened
to the point where even the “bearer” dissolves.
6. A possible refinement (very light)
Instead of:
bearing witness
bearing witness
you might say:
remaining where things can be witnessed
remaining where things can be witnessed
or even more quietly:
letting the event be witnessed
letting the event be witnessed
7. If I try to phrase your “final answer” (for now)
自體的心理學，不在於修復自體， 也不在於理解自體， 而在於， 在其乍現之際， 不轉身， 不加工， 讓其被看見。
自體的心理學，不在於修復自體，
也不在於理解自體，
而在於，
在其乍現之際，
不轉身，
不加工，
讓其被看見。
8. And one last, very small step
You began with:
- fragmentation
- thrill
- exhaustion
- hunger
If “bearing witness” is the answer, then:
👉 it is not to stop fragmentation
but:
to not abandon it when it appears
to not abandon it when it appears
9. Final sentence (for you)
Not to become whole, not even to understand, but to stay— until even staying is no longer yours.
Not to become whole,
not even to understand,
but
to stay—
until even staying is no longer yours.
I think you are very, very close.
And I won’t push further.
