And that's kinda what the guy in the book points towards. These sensations kind of "echo" and in the process it makes the present not just moment to moment, but a thicker "blob" of time that let's you reflect on past, present, and future all at once, thus giving rise to Self.

Further, by making the Self seem special and important, you think of yourself and special and important and you use consciousness to do impressive, long-term things like build cities, grow crops and the like.

later
Tom