Originally, everything is very simple, very harmonious. Only when “I” appears do things get complicated and suffering begins. When “I” disappears, the whole world is yours. When “I” appears, you lose this world. (Zen master Seung Sahn)
We each have a name, a body, a lifestyle, a community, and layers of national, cultural, and personal identity. And most of us attach ourselves to these identities. I’ve seen people become genuinely upset when their names are mispronounced, forgotten, or shortened as if a crime had been committed.
We attach to our values, beliefs, ideas, customs, and meta-narratives (philosophy, science, ideology) as if they were absolute reality. But in the end, do we really know who we truly are beyond these relative and arbitrary identities?
This is the journey we are being called on to take now on the planet if we want to move humanity forward. What does it really mean? Who are we beyond a name, a job title, a career, or a cultural identity? Who is this “I”? A simple illusion. Empty. Then, what is beyond this “I”?
No one can give a clear, absolute answer. Yet we all sense that there is a deeper Self within us, calling us from time to time—that is our true Self. Very often it pops up through a question like “what is the meaning of life?” It forces us to stop and see the illusion of what we call “reality.” The true Self exists beyond this human identity that so often divides us. We may understand this intellectually, but what about in our daily lives? Are we truly committed to reaching that level of consciousness that allows us to see and live in Oneness through all perspectives? Are we ready to cut through the illusion of the “I,” the little self, and fully live this human experience from a conscious place?
Have you ever asked yourself about your true tastes, preferences, dreams, and skills? Where do they come from? Are they genuinely yours, or are they products of your upbringing and life experience? An African baby adopted and raised in China would grow up with Chinese food preferences, language, vision of reality, and a Chinese philosophy of life. This questioning can go even further:
- Your body hosts trillions of bacteria in your intestines, each with their own DNA. You are not alone in that body.
- Your skin is covered with microorganisms that help keep you healthy.
- Your DNA carries information from far back in time—parts of it may be active in you in ways you are not even aware of. You literally carry the past within you.
- You carry transgenerational memories from your human ancestors and lineage—unexplained fears, emotions, or habits.
- Even your soul (distinct from your true Self) carries its own karma and stories from its past experiences that you are currently facing in this life.
So, who are you really? Can you truly trust that “I”? On the other hand, the infinitely small is infinitely large. As quantum physics showed, if you split an apple in four parts, each quarter will have the memory of the whole apple, like in a holographic manner. In parallel, with your billions of cells and atoms, you do carry the memory of the whole universe. When you meditate and go within to the infinitely small of your body, you naturally are aware of and in touch with the infinitely large or the universe. Just remember it.
Your true Self exists beyond all illusions created by the “I.” It is part of the universal consciousness from which we are all connected and come from—whether you call it Source, the Oneness, or by any other name. Your true Self is perfect, complete, wise, and always joyful. It doesn’t need to be improved or fixed. It only needs to rise and become the guiding force in your life. Your ego is meant to serve your true Self—not the other way around.
It is only from the perspective of the true Self that you can experience Oneness and find inner peace, true compassion, and wisdom. Only from that space will you find intuitively the right answers and know how to act and lead your life toward self-realization. It is only from that space that you can experience and enjoy diversity in all its forms without judgment or limitation.
This is why it’s so important to reconnect with our true Self—to step out of a dualistic mindset, drop all illusions, and live in Oneness. This is why beginning the inner journey toward inner peace is essential. Inner peace does not depend on the outside reality. It is only through the journey that you expand your consciousness and move toward Oneness. Trust the journey – the practice.
This is why we practice meditation: to clear the mind of illusions so the “I” dissolves, inner peace comes up and Oneness becomes real.
So, let’s all move beyond our little identities created by the “I” and see where we all come from, Oneness.
