ABSTRACT
The "self" of Mazahuas from El Nopal is understood by them mainly as personality, and this personality, rather than mortal or immortal soul, is exposed to all sorts of dangers. Mazahuas from El Nopal probably assume that the human "self" is made up predominantly of sensations and feelings. Unlike an animal, a human being is capable of being hurt, or being happy or unhappy in a variety of ways. Human sensations and feelings, though highly respected are not considered important attributes of the Mazahuas' "cultural heroes". They are concerned with it on the level of anxieties and aspirations, not on the level of cognitive curiosities. There is no tendency among them to manipulate their inner life, no mysticism of any sort, not even most rudimentary philosophies of self-improvement. A great deal of effort is exercised however by an individual Mazahua to maintain his inner life, integrity, courage, dignity, modesty, restraint on the level of traditional cultural expectations.
