Selbstsicht

Selbstsicht is a term used in German-language texts to translate the Buddhist concept sakkāya-ditṭhi or attā-ditṭhi, referring to a fixed, independent self. In Buddhism, Selbstsicht denotes the belief in a permanent self that exists independently of phenomena and experiences. It is regarded as a form of wrong view (micchā-ditṭhi) that fosters clinging, ignorance, and suffering and stands in opposition to the doctrine of anatta (not-self) and dependent origination. Across schools, overcoming Selbstsicht involves insight into the emptiness and interdependence of phenomena, the impermanence of the five aggregates, and the absence of a substantial, unchanging self. In practice, contemplative disciplines such as mindfulness (sati) and insight meditation (vipassana) are used to investigate the nature of the self, often by examining how experiences arise and cease without a persisting ego.

In German-language psychology and philosophy, Selbstsicht can also refer more generally to self-awareness or self-perception—the capacity to reflect on one’s own mental states, traits, and behavior. In this broader sense, it is not inherently tied to Buddhist doctrine and can be discussed in terms of cognition, self-regulation, or identity.

See also: Sakkāya-ditṭhi, Anatta, Vipassana, Achtsamkeit, Selbstbewusstsein.