My comment didn't address what it takes to be a "self". Although a herd behaves as an entity in some ways, is it a "self"? Is it even alive, or is it more like

My comment didn't address what it takes to be a "self". Although a herd behaves as an entity in some ways, is it a "self"? Is it even alive, or is it more like a river or a fire? Or mere phenomena? Is a group of people a "self"? Perhaps your "real" self is the one observing all the others? As a mind can observe its body, reflexes etc. [Or do several of them have that level of awareness?] Fallen twigs were branches overshadowed; part of trees' plan.