How do you identify yourself? One possible approach is to perceive yourself solely as your physical body, while another is to recognize both your physical body and your mind as constituting your identity. However, it is important to understand that you are not exclusively the body or the mind. Your body is formed by the assimilation of food, and your mind functions as a repository of information, specifically memories.
During your waking state, you possess awareness of everything occurring in your surroundings. Additionally, you have insight into each thought that emerges within your mind. When you enter the realm of sleep and engage in dreaming, you retain the awareness that you are experiencing a dream. Similarly, when you sleep without any dreams, you maintain the knowledge that you are in a dreamless state. By carefully observing these states, you will recognize the presence of an observer who perceives everything. This observer is the essence of your true identity—the witness that remains constant across all states of consciousness.
Nevertheless, the majority of us tend to associate our identity solely with the physical body. At the physical level, we share common traits with animals. Like any animal, we require sustenance, rest, and seek companionship for reproduction. If you continue to perceive yourself solely as a physical body, then there exists no fundamental distinction between you and an animal.
On the other hand, if you expand your sense of identity to include both the physical body and the mind, you may still fall short of truly embodying a human existence. Although you may have progressed beyond the animal stage, your focus remains primarily on fulfilling desires, albeit in a more sophisticated manner. By employing your intelligence, you strive to meet your desires in a more refined and luxurious fashion. However, this pursuit of desire-driven satisfaction, even with elevated sophistication, may prevent you from fully experiencing the profound depths of a truly human life.
So, who are you? What truly defines your identity? It is essential to introspect and ask yourself these profound questions, embarking on a personal journey of self-discovery and growth. By engaging in this introspective exploration, you can uncover the depths of your true essence and strive towards personal development and a more fulfilling existence. It is through this process that you can uncover your authentic self, untethered from external expectations and societal influences, and pave the way for a more meaningful and purposeful life.