There is a question which is seen as a very spiritual one and which people again and again search the answer for: Who am I? Some people say that they have found the answer, some others say that they are on a journey of self-discovery and have the feeling that they are reaching closer to the answer and others tell that they are far from knowing themselves. What exactly is this question, where does it come from and what would a possible answer look like?
Obviously this question refers to your inner being. It is not about your body or your profession or your belongings. I can always say ‘I am Swami Balendu, born on 14th October 1971, I am 1,68 meters tall and have brown eyes.’ This information and maybe some more would answer questions of a form at the doctor’s or in another office but it would not really tell you who I am.
The answer to the question ‘Who am I?’ is much more complex and cannot really be expressed in a sentence or two. There were many scriptures written just trying to find the answer to this question. On the other hand, the shortest, spiritual answer that you can get is ‘You are not only the body’. There are however so many ideas to what this other part is, what is your soul or this ‘rest’ which is not the body?
It includes your past with your development from your birth until now, the impressions that others have left on you and your experiences, your present with your mind, your thoughts and your feelings today and of course also your future, the dreams, plans and wishes that you have.
There is however a bit more to ‘you’ which is even more difficult to express in words. If you understand this ‘I’, this little word really deeply, you know what I mean. Feeling that you know who you are gives you peace of mind and heart. This understanding is why spiritual leaders, religions and many people have always recommended people to find the answer to this question.
The reality is however that there is nobody who can give you the answer for you. You may have heard a guru or master tell you that they would help you but the reality is that you have to find the answer yourself. Nobody else can tell you who you are because we are all unique.
In my opinion this is also not a journey that you go on and you reach to an end when you have found yourself. It is an ongoing process because you yourself are in development. You are not done once you have felt you know yourself. This is you today but who will you be tomorrow? Meditation can help you feel changes of your personality and to rediscover yourself when you feel you have lost the connection to that inner truth.
How do you get to that point when you know yourself? Listen to your heart. It is an experience that requires getting to know your feelings, thoughts, your reactions and your actions. Know why you do what you are doing. Come into more awareness and consciousness. Know the love that you have inside yourself. When you are able to connect with this love, you will know yourself.
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It is always difficult to say ‘I know who I am’ don’t you think? I know maybe just right now what I think and what my emotions are but how would I know how I will think in a week? Maybe I don’t even know how I would react if you came to me with a very surprising message now – would I be angry, sad or shocked? Who knows?Btw: beautiful picture
I believe you are your story. It is always changing as your life never stops, it keeps going. Just as what and who you are keeps changing. you are not the same as you were 10 years. Life is a journey and we should enjoy every moment.