Do you ever get this feeling where you feel.. detached from the rest of the world, like an observer..?

I'm not sure what causes this, but i get it too sometimes. I think mine stems from the fact I feel alone at times and it looks like everyone around me has their acts together while I'm still trying to play catch-up. it's weird, but interesting at the same time.

I don't think it sounds twisted at all. I have feelings of detachment often. At times when I'm alone & just inside my head reflecting on abstractions & patterns. Other times, with a person, or people, I'll "disconnect" involuntarily, in order to internalize, evaluate something I've observed. Crowded places aren't a factor, though. I get a lot out of observing others, & suspect they "may" feel that way about me. What a fascinating life. Both the outer, & inner worlds.

Not only does this happen to me often, I cultivate it as a practise. I am a Buddhist and this feeling, this stance of observation if you will, has a name and is a practised Buddhist concept. It is known as Not Self or Non Self.

Allow me a smile in response to your marvellous intuitive insight and another for your recognition and acknowledgement of this "feeling's" importance.

You're right of course, it is very hard to describe. I've often described it as similar to attending a football match where your favourite team is playing. You become involved in the match as the Observer where the outside world beyond the stadium no longer exists. Feeling a whole gamut of feelings during the game and afterwards, these feelings dissipate as you go home, your consciousness returning as it were back to reality as these feelings wane.

You are right again in that you can make this feeling as it were, happen at any time...Buddhists try to cultivate this entire stance as a way of living, a way of experiencing Life all the time because there are very clear advantages to Observing Life from this stance, advantages in terms of happiness and joy.

Buddhists consider this Observers Stance of Not Self a major factor in ridding the consciousness of Unhappiness and Selfishness. What you have discovered is significant because it takes Buddhists sometimes many years to cultivate this stance of observation and to realise that when this is done that the illusions of the Mind..(to Buddhists).. can then be clearly seen with this new insight and from the new perspective..

Why it happens at least from a Buddhists perspective is that your Mind is reverting to its natural position of stillness, then allowing this perspective to be realised at once. The Observer's stance, to Buddhists is the Mind's natural perspective and the reason we need to make it go there as it were is because of the conditioning we take on and learn throughout our lives which distract our Mind from this natural state.

To Buddhists, this is the beginning of a journey, a Path if you will of great importance, allow me a small bow in recognition of your discovery and smile for your benefit...

Some thoughts on Not Self..from a Buddhist....

Can't answer why. It used to happen to me alot when I was younger. when i was more emotional. Perhaps it's excitement and anxiety that triggers it. Like at concerts in little pubs or fesitvals with lots of people. It also used to happen to me when I was alone. Often looking into water. At the beach or watching water in a pool. I can see myself watching myself. I hear her thoughts and think my own.. if that makes sense. Perhaps this is what you are talking about. I've never been able to control it, and as i have gotten older, it's dissipated. But i remember always feeling, well-detached yet completely at peace.

well, it happens to me... i don't know why but i guess i have sort of an explanation..

sometimes we just feel so different (whether a good way or a bad one) and that's what makes us feel so lonely and isolated most of the times. you just look around and you find that all of the people around you never knew you. also, you just look around wondering if people (you observe) think the way you do, feel, have the same problems as you. you just keep on watching with no reason, thinking how many masks people wear and why... i don't know how to say this, but i tried my best to answer...

it's not a bad feeling anyway, cause it opens up your eyes on things you never seen before

Good luck

OMG, this happened to me in High School too many times to count. It is like an out of body experience, but not really, because you are still in your body, but disconnected but still connected. Sounds strange, I know, but if this is what you feel, then we've both felt it.

I don't have an answer for why it happens, but it can be like, really freaky, huh? It scared the beejeebees out of me. I couldn't make it happen when I just wanted it to. It just happened on it's own for no reason I know of.

Good luck figuring it out. I'll be watching for other's answers.

I think it's natural, sometimes if i am in a busy mall or on a crowded bus, I feel like I am floating above it all, a spectator in a movie theatre, all that's missing is the popcorn.

Most of the time. Except when I'm with those I love. But I am also the observer observed. What fun.

Every time I log onto the Internet.

I think everyone experiences that from time to time. It's life way of having you think where you are in life and what you can do to improve it.