.: Who Am I?
Category:Home / Religion and Spirituality
Who am I? What come to mind when you ask this of yourself? How many different memories, ideas, and things seem like a part of you? What do you identify with? Does this process of identification help you, or just cause suffering?
Perhaps when your favorite basketball team loses, you suffer as though YOU lost. When your car is damaged it feels like YOU are hurt. When somebody attacks who they think you are, it seems as though they actually reach inside and poke at your true self. How can you escape this unecessary drama and pain?
Perhaps by seeing who and what you are not. Seeing the process of identification clearly can free you from the ego attachments that cause you to suffer. There is a simple meditation that can help you with this.
Who Am I - A Meditation On Self Identity
Sit or lay comfortably in a quiet place. Relax, close your eyes, and take several deep breaths. Breath through your nose, eventually letting your breathing fall into a natural pattern. Pay attention to your breath, to the air moving in and out of your lungs and nose. Let the tension drain from your body.
Ask the question in your mind, "Where am I?" Then ask, "What am I?" and "Who am I?" Just let these questions sit for a moment in your mind.
Become aware of your body, and consider your leg. Would you cease to exist if you lost it? Are you your leg? Continue through the parts of your body, asking of each part, "Am I here?" and "Is this what I am?"
Then open your eyes and look around. Are you any of these things? You might feel pain when your favorite chair breaks, as though it were you, but you are not that chair. Which of these things you own are you? Ask these questions. Ask, "Am I this?"
Now close your eyes again and say your name in your mind. Is there a sense of identity? And if you had no name? Ask yourself "Am I really..." and say your name again. Consider what the most honest answer is. Try saying "I am..." and insert any other name. Note how, when you call yourself by another name, you feel differently. You have a name-identity that is a collection of ideas, something seen differently by you and others.
Let feelings arise, and ask "Am I this fear?... this pain, sadness, desire, pleasure, or anger? You can see that your feelings are not you - they just pass through you. Clothes, body, reputation - none of it is your true self-identity, is it?
Continue this meditation for twenty minutes or so. Take a deep breath and get up, noticing if you feel different - maybe less worried or less attached to things, feelings and thoughts. Repeat the meditation as often as necessary, to remind you of what you are not. Oh, and you really don't need to answer the question, "Who am I?"
Article keywords: who am I, self, meditation
Article Source: http://www.articles32.com
Steve Gillman has meditated and studied meditation for over twenty years. You can find a good mindfulness exercise and subscribe to The Meditation Newsletter at: www.TheMeditationSite.com
.: New Religion and Spirituality Articles
1). 7 Tips For Spirituality, Making A Connection
The question is often asked, what can I do to improve my spirituality? Here are 7 concrete action steps.
2). Examining The Different Types of Psychic Reading
Many people find it amazing that in this day and age where technology is become more and more advanced and scientific facts seem to explain more mysteries of the world with each day that there is still a huge market for psychic reading and other forms of paranormal/non-scientific method.
3). Israeli Jews in Solidarity with Palestinian Muslims, Christians and Internationals
The Christians of the Holy Land have decreased from 20% of the total population to less than 1.3% since 1948. 90% of Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land never even meet any Palestinian Christians; thus they are known as The Forgotten Faithful.
4). Prayer Can Heal A Heavy Heart
A true to life story of how a short prayer healed a heavy heart and saved a broken friendship.
5). Individual Growth Is Spiritual As Well, Not Just Bones And Muscles
We see muscles grow and we feel ourselves getting stronger with time. All of this occurs naturally, as we eat, work, and play. But what does it take for us to grow spiritually? Spiritual growth requires a conscious effort of introspection and analysis.
6). Focusing on Religion
According to the online etymology dictionary, religion, in its modern sense, is the "recognition of, obedience to, and worship of a higher, unseen power."
7). Magic Spells
Magical spells rituals, their history and modern views on the practice of magic. A quick definition and an explanation on the origins of magic.
.: Top Religion and Spirituality Articles
1). How to unlock the hidden powers of your subconscious mind.
Copyright 2006 Emmanuel Segui
The subconscious mind "covers" about 88% of your mind; the other 12% is covered by the conscious mind. The subconscious part is responsible for storing your memory, habits, personality, self-image and beliefs. It also controls your bodily functions.
Scientists have also identified four states of awareness that our brain goes through.
2). Differences: The Old and New Testament
The Bible is a Book that has two main divisions in - the Old Testament and the New Testament. Even though there are these distinct parts of the Bible - it still has only one theme - redemption. This is necessary to understand because the whole Bible revolves around this theme, and some have said that there is a scarlet thread (of blood) that runs form cover to cover.
3). Feng Shui Bathroom Wealth
Feng Shui has tried, true, and time tested wealth strategies that integrate theories based on Feng Shui Elements. Feng Shui colors and tools such as the Feng Shui Baguato provide followers the secret keys to lasting prosperity. If you did a Feng Shui Study, you would be fascinated by the relationship Feng Shui establishes between the bathroom and wealth.
4). Annual Forecasts & Fengshui Remedies for 2006 : Year of the Yang Red Fire Dog - for Pig Sign
The ancient Chinese Astrology is not only fascinating but also quite accurate. It’s Zodiac is based on 12 signs, a cycle of 12 years and are named after 12 symbolic animals : Rat (or Mouse), Ox (or Buffalo or Bull or Cow), Tiger, Rabbit (or Hare or Cat), Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat (or Sheep or Ram), Monkey, Rooster (or Hen or Cock or Chicken or Phoenix), Dog and Pig (or Boar or Hog).
5). Expressions of Sympathy
Even the most talkative and eloquent among us are often at a loss for words when it comes to helping people deal with the death of someone close to them. We want to express our sympathy, our sharing of their feelings, but we don't know how to do it. Words can be comforting, but they're also fleeting. So we turn to more tangible expressions of sympathy.
6). Flying Stars Fengshui for 2006 : Yearly Analysis & Remedies for Main Door facing South East
(Chinese Solar Year : 04.02.2006 to 03.02.2007)
Flying Stars or Fei Xing is a powerful form of Feng Shui derived from the famous Xuan Kong Fengshui. It is an Analysis of the Five Elements and Star Combinations (representing certain energy patterns) that occupy every building. Each new year these annual stars change, Qi (energy) shifts happen, bringing good and bad energy with them - thereby producing different effects.
7). Islam - Basic Beliefs and Concepts
Islam is the most growing religion on earth, There is more than 2 Billion humans all over the world called Muslims.
Islam Based on the Submission of human will to One God who is called in Arabic "Allah" The only One, The Superior and The Only Creator Of This Universe with no partners and all the existence under his own Control.
Islam was the religion given to Adam The first Man on Earth who was created by God, not as fallen being.