# Obscure question: Macrobiotic diet proponent and the 'illusion of self'

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-question-macrobiotic-diet-proponent-and-the-illusion-of-self/671426>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 16, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-question-macrobiotic-diet-proponent-and-the-illusion-of-self/671426 "2013-10-16T19:34:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-question-macrobiotic-diet-proponent-and-the-illusion-of-self/671426/1 "2013-10-16T19:34:58Z")

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Something I heard several years ago by someone who was on a macrobiotic diet. He mentioned a Japanese author/proponent/guru of the macrobiotic diet, and one of his ideas was “the illusion of self.” Wish I could remember more, but that’s about it.

Eh. . . the GQ, obviously: Who was this cat? [and/or] What was the quote?

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**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-question-macrobiotic-diet-proponent-and-the-illusion-of-self/671426/2 "2013-10-16T19:46:49Z")

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It was almost certainly either George Ohsawa or Michio Kushi. Not familiar with that particular quote, though.

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-question-macrobiotic-diet-proponent-and-the-illusion-of-self/671426/3 "2013-10-16T20:03:22Z")

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Thanks. Appears to be Kushi. I see a number of references that are close to what I recall.