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How to know who you are?

A Vestigial Mote

Well-Known Member
Maybe others have been in this situation before?

You know spiritually who you are and know what lay in front of you of hard work on morality, ethics, and cultivation of spiritual practice. But in daily life that's where one struggle?
Personally, I see and understand the spiritual side of the being I am. But on a personal level of being a human being, this is where I struggle the most.

My fiancèe, my Doctor, and family have seen my struggle and even asked me. Tell us by your own words, Who are you? And every time I end up with being unable to answer. it always ends up where I answer I do not know.

Who am I? This is the question I can not answer.....
I don't believe the question of "who" you are really matters. A lot of people seem to think it does. I think the more revealing question is "what" you are. Examining the various facets of a live and lively being, to try and make heads or tails of what it is driving you, holding you back, etc.

We all know we each have a unique, one-of-a-kind personality, thoughts, desires, goals, "dreams", etc. But what really drives and supports all that is NOT some amorphous, independent "you." I believe that "what" you are facilitates all of the rest of it. Without the "what," I don't believe there is anything at all. Once you have boiled our life's complications down to a level of activity playing out on a "meta-structure," I feel that things all become a lot more clear, questions you once had are simply removed, things that were once complicated become unbelievably simple, and how you got where you are at loses a large part of its often-times frustrating mystery.

Take, for example, the fact that males of the human species have a penis. "You" didn't purposefully select this instrument, and "you" can't fully control its wielding! There it is, between your legs, and it is there regardless whether" "you" even really want to use it or not. There are thoughts tied to it. Thoughts that "you" did not place in your mind yourself. There is innate understanding how to utilize it, in some sense, even in the person who has never talked about it with another male. It sends signals to your brain that are pleasurable, and "you" are not (fully) capable of controlling the signals. This penis is a part of the meta-structure. It was built to support the greater common good of your colony of cells - your living body. It and its uses are tied to "you" very deeply, and cannot be fully extricated. Now, in a world where one assumes that the "you" part of you (that is to say, your consciousness, thoughts, memories, etc.) is the most important thing (for instance, in a monotheistic word where God loves this "you"), such a thing as this penis and all the instincts tied to it may become very, VERY complicated indeed (for evidence, I give you the Catholic church's views on sex), but when you accept that your mind and thoughts are just another part of the whole of "what" you are - why the matter becomes an exceedingly simple one.
 

MonkeyFire

Well-Known Member
Do you have a distinct tendency that you know about, or a favorite thing like time, or hope. When I am faced with the question of who we are, I have been living FAITH since I was 6 because my mind verbalizes "I, BELIEVE." Faith judges life to be splederous and the morality of all of those about to receive it, its a gift.
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
Do you have a distinct tendency that you know about, or a favorite thing like time, or hope. When I am faced with the question of who we are, I have been living FAITH since I was 6 because my mind verbalizes "I, BELIEVE." Faith judges life yobe splederous and the morality of all of those about to receive it, my gift.
Well, when it comes to faith or the cultivation path I kind of know what is needed, But in daily life interacting with others, it is more of a problem for me, honestly, I don't know what I want or need in mundane lifestyle. kind of have very few wishes for my self, most of my life has been about helping others and not focus on me. But my fiancèe thinks I need to focus more on friendship with others or finding a hobby that has nothing to do with spiritual living. And I kind of go blank when someone asks me about this, because it has not been a part of who I identified with for so long.
But she is right :) I am allowed to think of me and what I want too.

Lately, I have taken some interest in woodcarving so i might try to learn about it :)
 

MonkeyFire

Well-Known Member
Well, when it comes to faith or the cultivation path I kind of know what is needed, But in daily life interacting with others, it is more of a problem for me, honestly, I don't know what I want or need in mundane lifestyle. kind of have very few wishes for my self, most of my life has been about helping others and not focus on me. But my fiancèe thinks I need to focus more on friendship with others or finding a hobby that has nothing to do with spiritual living. And I kind of go blank when someone asks me about this, because it has not been a part of who I identified with for so long.
But she is right :) I am allowed to think of me and what I want too.

Lately, I have taken some interest in woodcarving so i might try to learn about it :)

I would try using what you know about spirituality to better yourself with your day to day.
 

BSM1

What? Me worry?
That question can be a meditation of various kinds. There's the witness meditation where 'you' watch thoughts arise and disappear. There's the direct "who am I" meditation. There's "neti neti" (not this not this) meditation where you subtract things that are not you.

The end result of these and other forms of meditation is the answer to the question, sooner or later.

In that case, I am the sound of one hand clapping...
 

stvdv

Veteran Member: I Share (not Debate) my POV
Who am I? This is the question I can not answer.....
Saints are known to answer in Silence. So "not answering" the question seems a good start at least.

I met a Jnani and he said, that first he repeated a Mantra (name of God for him) for 3 years, continuously to calm down the mind.
Then he kept silent and did the Ramana practice "Who am I" (silence all thoughts by bringing them back to "who am I") for 3 years, 24/7.

Then he realized.

So it seems not an easy task to accomplish. And it takes a lot of concentration and perseverence and you need to be free. The moment you are in the world the thoughts multiply like crazy. So I do understand when the Bible says "the road is narrow, only few can make it".

Personally I try my best to "enjoy the spiritual road", and not beating myself up for not having reached the goal yet
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
Saints are known to answer in Silence. So "not answering" the question seems a good start at least.

I met a Jnani and he said, that first he repeated a Mantra (name of God for him) for 3 years, continuously to calm down the mind.
Then he kept silent and did the Ramana practice "Who am I" (silence all thoughts by bringing them back to "who am I") for 3 years, 24/7.

Then he realized.

So it seems not an easy task to accomplish. And it takes a lot of concentration and perseverence and you need to be free. The moment you are in the world the thoughts multiply like crazy. So I do understand when the Bible says "the road is narrow, only few can make it".

Personally I try my best to "enjoy the spiritual road", and not beating myself up for not having reached the goal yet
You are a wise spiritual being :)
The clue to the freedom you speak of is to let go of every attachment we hold to this human realm of life, this i know and understand, but to actually do it, that is the difficult part :)
 

oldbadger

Skanky Old Mongrel!
Maybe others have been in this situation before?

You know spiritually who you are and know what lay in front of you of hard work on morality, ethics, and cultivation of spiritual practice. But in daily life that's where one struggle?
Personally, I see and understand the spiritual side of the being I am. But on a personal level of being a human being, this is where I struggle the most.

My fiancèe, my Doctor, and family have seen my struggle and even asked me. Tell us by your own words, Who are you? And every time I end up with being unable to answer. it always ends up where I answer I do not know.

Who am I? This is the question I can not answer.....
Hello again......
My wife has lived with me for 27 years. She knows me quite well.

If she wrote a description of who I am it would probably differ a good deal from my own guesses.

So many people think I'm a rotter :)D) Are they right?
A few people think I'm OK. Are they right?

I am who and what I am, just as the sparrows in our garden are who and what they are. I am me. I am the me whom my enemies hate, and the me whom my friends like.

None of me is moral or holy in any way, although I am law abiding. When you accept that you are you, you are doing your best.

And good luck with the doctors...... I'll bet they haven't got a clue who they are either. :p
 

URAVIP2ME

Veteran Member
Maybe others have been in this situation before?
You know spiritually who you are and know what lay in front of you of hard work on morality, ethics, and cultivation of spiritual practice. But in daily life that's where one struggle?
Personally, I see and understand the spiritual side of the being I am. But on a personal level of being a human being, this is where I struggle the most.
My fiancèe, my Doctor, and family have seen my struggle and even asked me. Tell us by your own words, Who are you? And every time I end up with being unable to answer. it always ends up where I answer I do not know.
Who am I? This is the question I can not answer.....

Seems to me that the apostle Paul has us in a ' Spiritual Olympics ' of sort as per 1 Corinthians 9:18-27.
Each person's struggle to run in such a 'spiritual way' as to completely reach the finish line.- Matthew 24:13
Paul was concerned that he could in the end be a castaway, fall away - 1 Corinthians 10:12
Paul put away the person he was before he encountered Jesus.
Paul took up who he now is by disowning his old self - Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23
I think Paul would have answered "Who am I?" by saying, "I am a Christian personality in following Christ ."
Thus, Paul put on the new personality letting go of the old - Ephesians 4:24-32
By cultivating the fruitage of God's spirit that helps us know who we are - Galatians 5:22-23.
Hope this is of some help.
 

URAVIP2ME

Veteran Member
You are Searcher.
"13All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them."
Besides a heavenly country or city in Scripture I find there are those who will inherit the Earth - Psalms 37:9-11
They will be earthly subjects of God's kingdom as found at Psalms 72:8; Psalms 72:12-14.
This is why we are all invited to pray the invitation of Rev. 22:20 for Jesus to come !.
We don't pray to be 'taken away' to Jesus nor pray to be ' taken up' to Jesus., but for Jesus to come !
Come and bring heavenly benefits to Earth for us such as found at Revelation 22:2 (thy will be done on Earth )
Bring ' healing ' to earth's nations. Healing as described in Isaiah 35th chapter.
Jesus will fulfill God's promise to father Abraham that ALL families of Earth will be blessed, and ALL nations of Earth will be blessed as per Genesis 12:3; Genesis 22:18; Acts of the Apostles 3:25; Galatians 3:8.
So, those who died before Jesus died (John 3:13) can receive the promise of everlasting life on a beautiful paradisical Earth as originally offered to Adam before his downfall. This earthly promise they saw in future distance - Hebrews 11:39.
Thus, what John saw was a heavenly Jerusalem ' coming down ' to govern Earth - Revelation 21:2.
 
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leov

Well-Known Member
Besides a heavenly country or city in Scripture I find there are those who will inherit the Earth - Psalms 37:9-11
They will be earthly subjects of God's kingdom as found at Psalms 72:8; Psalms 72:12-14.
This is why we are all invited to pray the invitation of Rev. 22:20 for Jesus to come !.
We don't pray to be 'taken away' to Jesus nor pray to be ' taken up' to Jesus., but for Jesus to come !
Come and bring heavenly benefits to Earth for us such as found at Revelation 22:2 (thy will be done on Earth )
Bring ' healing ' to earth's nations. Healing as described in Isaiah 35th chapter.
Jesus will fulfill God's promise to father Abraham that ALL families of Earth will be blessed, and ALL nations of Earth will be blessed as per Genesis 12:3; Genesis 22:18; Acts of the Apostles 3:25; Galatians 3:8.
So, those who died before Jesus died (John 3:13) can receive the promise of everlasting life on a beautiful paradisical Earth as originally offered to Adam before his downfall. This earthly promise they saw in future distance - Hebrews 11:39.
Thus, what John saw was a heavenly Jerusalem ' coming down ' to govern Earth - Revelation 21:2.
inheriting the Earth is not ultimate purpose, why some inherit earth some heaven?
 
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InChrist

Free4ever
Maybe others have been in this situation before?

You know spiritually who you are and know what lay in front of you of hard work on morality, ethics, and cultivation of spiritual practice. But in daily life that's where one struggle?
Personally, I see and understand the spiritual side of the being I am. But on a personal level of being a human being, this is where I struggle the most.

My fiancèe, my Doctor, and family have seen my struggle and even asked me. Tell us by your own words, Who are you? And every time I end up with being unable to answer. it always ends up where I answer I do not know.

Who am I? This is the question I can not answer.....
I am a sinner who has been set free and given new, eternal life in Jesus Christ.
 

Straw Dog

Well-Known Member
Maybe others have been in this situation before?

You know spiritually who you are and know what lay in front of you of hard work on morality, ethics, and cultivation of spiritual practice. But in daily life that's where one struggle?
Personally, I see and understand the spiritual side of the being I am. But on a personal level of being a human being, this is where I struggle the most.

My fiancèe, my Doctor, and family have seen my struggle and even asked me. Tell us by your own words, Who are you? And every time I end up with being unable to answer. it always ends up where I answer I do not know.

Who am I? This is the question I can not answer.....

Perhaps the question is the answer. You are an artist that creates themselves within the moment using colors of the past and ideas of the future. You are not a static form or fixed memory. You are a flowing process of becoming that may have no beginning or end.

As a human mind, you are like a coastline... both sand and sea.
 

URAVIP2ME

Veteran Member
inheriting the Earth is not ultimate purpose, why some inherit earth some heaven?
First, I find Adam and Eve were to live forever on Earth as long as they did Not break God's Law
So, God's purpose for visible earthly human life is as stated at Genesis 1:28
Psalm 115:16 lets us know God gifted Earth to humans.
God did Not gift Heaven to humans. Heavens were for invisible angelic life / angels.
Because of mankind falling away is why there are some humans called to Heaven.
They are like the people of Luke 22:28-30, who will Not be called as angels, but as holy ones / saints -Daniel 7:18.
At Matthew 5:5 when Jesus referred to Psalms 37:9-11 it was the promise that meek people will inherit the Earth.
Not a ruined Earth, but a beautiful paradisical Earth as described at Isaiah 35th chapter.
People who died before Jesus died (John 3:13) can have a happy-and-healthy physical resurrection to life on Earth.
The ones called to be holy ones/saints will govern over Earth from the heavens - Revelation 20:6; 2:10; 5:9-10
They have two (2) jobs to do:
They will serve as kings over earthly subjects of God's kingdom government . - Psalms 72:8, 12-14.
As kings they will take care of governmental responsibilities for the people of Earth.
As priests they will take care of spiritual duties for the people living on Earth.
This is the coming time when even 'enemy death' will be No more on Earth - 1 Corinthians 15:24-26; Isaiah 25:8
 

URAVIP2ME

Veteran Member
I am a sinner who has been set free and given new, eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Yes, set free from what is religiously false, and eternal life if one endures to the end as Jesus states at Matthew 24:13.
Endures to the end of one's life or endure to the coming time of Revelation 7:14,9 when Jesus will then take the action of Isaiah 11:3-4; Revelation 19:14-16.
 

Jim

Nets of Wonder
Maybe others have been in this situation before?

You know spiritually who you are and know what lay in front of you of hard work on morality, ethics, and cultivation of spiritual practice. But in daily life that's where one struggle?
Personally, I see and understand the spiritual side of the being I am. But on a personal level of being a human being, this is where I struggle the most.

My fiancèe, my Doctor, and family have seen my struggle and even asked me. Tell us by your own words, Who are you? And every time I end up with being unable to answer. it always ends up where I answer I do not know.

Who am I? This is the question I can not answer.....
I’ve only read a few of the posts, but I want to ask someone questions before I forget, to better understand what you’re asking. Do you have some thoughts and feelings sometimes about who some other people are, on a personal level of being a human being, or can you think of possible examples of who some other people might say they are? If so, can you give me a few examples?
 
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