[gerturiotf]

From the Sabbasava Sutta This is how he attends inappropriately: 'Was I in the past? Was I not in the past? What was I in the past? How was I in the past? Having been what, what was I in the past? Shall I be in the future? Shall I not be in the future? What shall I be in the future? How shall I be in the future? Having been what, what shall I be in the future?' Or else he is inwardly perplexed about the immediate present: 'Am I? Am I not? What am I? How am I? Where has this being come from? Where is it bound?' One key is appropriate attention, which has to do with understanding dukkha and its conditions. We're going to have our opinions about rebirth, perhaps believing "I" will end at death, or "I" will continue after death. It's worth recognizing the underlying "I" fixation associated with these beliefs. We don't have to worry about these beliefs or defend them if we don't cling to them too tightly. We can recognize, other people also have beliefs that they might cling to. In that way, we can see ourselves in others. Appropriate attention is recognizing this, just as it is, and being able to say to our beliefs: I see you for what you are.