What is the "I" (that you think you are)

[Emmalevine]

I...is a single expression of the whole.

Everything that we try to define ourselves by, ie thoughts, emotions, name, age, location, job, hobbies, traits, qualities, even relationships....don't really exist. It's all fleeting.

It's like looking at our bodies and deciding that's who we are (which many people do) and then god forbid losing a part of ourselves (literally)...who are we then? Our arms, legs etc aren't who we are either.

I've come to the conclusion that everything I see, do or feel isn't me. They are expressions of me at a certain point in time. The real me is one aspect of the Whole.

I read somewhere that each of us carries the potential for every single trait, quality and experience known to man. I firmly believe this is the case. It also means that there is no 'I' to define ourselves because we are all the same, like drops of water in the ocean. But how we express that sameness is unique.

I also feel that we don't lose our uniqueness as we pass over into a different life. Who we really are is the spiritual consciousness that makes all the fleeting stuff happen.

[hybrid]

Originally Posted by Gem

What I really am... as an essence... what I think I am... as a delusion, and that's the set up (what you think you are).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydAfg...eature=related

[Xan]

Originally Posted by Gem

The Rasta calls it I & I.

...but even so, it's nothing to do with who you are, and sometimes I read stuff about 'what you really are' or 'true self' and similar and it says nothing about who they are.

Well of course, because 'who you really are' is not an idea or collection of qualities... and is too subtle to be described.

What are they like? Is it comforting to be with them? How do they made you feel? What impression do you get?.... it's a knowing which is nothing in particular, you just become aquainted and slowly get to know them.

Gem... You are describing you knowing someone else as their persona and vibes, which is a valid description.

But as for knowing the 'true self' we can only know that within ourselves. Then we discover it happens to be same 'true' in everyone and everything.


Xan

[Xan]

love god Gem: to ask who am I is merely to say I'm Gem and have other names, I've been here and like that, was born in somwhere etc and so on but really I can't post my entire auto biography.

Ah, but this is to ask "Who is my surface identity'? The question here is, "Who am I beyond that small self?"

"Who am I who has no name, no history, was not born and never dies?"


Xan

[Shabda]

Originally Posted by Gem

The Rasta calls it I & I.

...but even so, it's nothing to do with who you are, and sometimes I read stuff about 'what you really are' or 'true self' and similar and it says nothing about who they are.

What are they like? Is it comforting to be with them? How do they made you feel? What impression do you get?.... it's a knowing which is nothing in particular, you just become aquainted and slowly get to know them.

thats funny because when entering the last page of this thread, i was thinking exactly that, but in this form, also my personal answer to the thread question.."I am Eye"...or is it "Eye am I" ?