{The First}

Hundreds of pages can be written, but only as preparation to begin thinking clearly about fundamental inquiry. So, to begin:

Inquiry usually tries to find what principle or experience or entity comes first. But even this assumes that it is understood what "first" means. So, for full understanding it is necessary to clarify what it would mean to be "the first."
Understanding begins and flourishes with understanding "first", without needing to later identify some principle, experience, etc. as the first:
"The first" means that which has nothing more fundamental.
So, whatever is meant by "the first" cannot have any characteristics, otherwise it would need something more fundamental than it to determine those characteristics, and would therefore not be first.
The special notation {the first} is needed because it is the only sign that doesn't - even potentially - refer to some characteristic (unlike all other signs).

Hundreds of more pages can be written about mistakes that come from still trying to give {the first} some characteristic. But moving on:

There is a point where it is not a conceptual difficulty with this inquiry, but a refusal to pursue it because of the implications for one's own sense of being.
There is a deep assumption that the concept "one's own being" refers to something unique and real. But by many analyses this is incoherent.
To believe this, one must assume there is a foundation independent of one's being which is configured to maintain these unique characteristics. (Otherwise they would be perceived as appearances generated from within the mind and wouldn't seem "real.") But there isn't such a foundation.
So, safeguarding the belief that "one's own being" is solid and real - either for one's own needs or in sympathy with another's need to believe it - is an impasse.

Yet hundreds of more pages can be written about the psychology of this mistake and the ways it can restrict how the mind may function. But moving on:

Besides safeguarding beliefs about "one's own being", there are many more perceptions that there must ultimately be a "substantial" foundation upon which to base one's mind - other ways of trying to grant {the first} some characteristics.
But any such foundation which retains characteristics could not truly be a foundation, making this approach unworkable.
Understanding this opens up another way for the mind to function, able to explore possibilities that can only be if there is no "substantial" foundation.

What does such a mind find? At last, this would be worth writing hundreds of pages about....

TheFirst.org is one of related sites under development by Jeff Thompson

TheFirst.org is a fundamental inquiry into first principles (and can be pretty abstract).
OpenAwareness.org is a more accessible discussion on living according to TheFirst.org insights in contemporary society.