What is identity?

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When we speak of identity we often think of what we identify as or who we wish to be seen as. But what happens when we losing the identity and we stop putting our self in a category of this or that.

An example can be, when we first time enter this forum, we identify our self one way, but in time this identity may change depending on our journey through life are we the same identity later on in life?

Does my identity change according to how you who do read this, experience Amanaki? or is the identity of Amanaki always the same?

We often say, personally I think so and so, or personally I believe so and so.
But who is it that experiences it? Who IS this personality?

As I see it, identity is the product of the ego-self's judgments. Whatever changes take place is subject to a shift in judgment.

One of the tasks of the mind, through our senses, is to make sense of the world our body walks through. However, our brain does not have nerve endings of its own. As a result, the mind cannot sense the brain, and itself. It cannot make sense of it. So the mind starts gathering information, from its memory banks, about what the body has done, achieved, thought, feelings, etc to fabricate a story about its 'self'. In affect, the mind has fabricated a story about 'self' to identify itself.

However, the mind knows it is just a fabricated story, and invalid as something real. It discovers that if it denies the identity as a story, it would seem that the 'self' or ego can seem valid. To keep this false pretense up, the mind has to keep busy in validating itself. "look at me", "I know", "I am better", etc.

What the mind fears most is the truth of its identity as being invalid. Any truth that may expose its truth is seen as a threat, and will quickly try the turn the treat around. If the identity is under great threat of becoming invalid, the mind may even think "I am losing my mind".

The good news is that the mind, through living a life based on honesty, can learn to no longer trust the 'self' to be valid. In other words, it can be okay without an identity. Instead of being a some-body, it is okay to be a no-body.

Amanaki said:

If this OP is in the wrong area of the forum, mods please move it to the correct area

When we speak of identity we often think of what we identify as or who we wish to be seen as. But what happens when we losing the identity and we stop putting our self in a category of this or that.

An example can be, when we first time enter this forum, we identify our self one way, but in time this identity may change depending on our journey through life are we the same identity later on in life?

Does my identity change according to how you who do read this, experience Amanaki? or is the identity of Amanaki always the same?

We often say, personally I think so and so, or personally I believe so and so.
But who is it that experiences it? Who IS this personality?

Click to expand...

I liken to The Buddha's point of view. He mentions that we don't have a fixed identity. For example, if we had a hill. On the hill is squares, each lining an identity: LGBT, woman, christian, so have you. The hill is life. You are the ball at the top of the hill. As you're rolling down, you slide across various identities that are still you but they are not fixed. So, they don't define you.

So, my identity, going by this view may be LGBTQ one day and woman the next. The thing is, we can't tell that our identities aren't fixed. One identity flows into another and we say these things are "who" we are. That view makes sense: child of god, queer, so have you. On the other hand, that's trying to make us eternal as if we don't change. One child of god converts to a follower of Vishnu. One person who thought she was lesbian, found herself as a bisexual later in life. So our identities change in that respect.

Identity isn't fixed (it isn't a "soul"). It's always changing. Just people feel that if they change, they loose what they had. If they become Hindu, they drop christianity like a plague. We are made up of a lot of things and experiences.

Maybe identity is learning how to deal with change. Once you grow and understand change, you're not hooked to one identity over another. It disappears. One flow. Enlightenment. There's no end to this cycle. We build up experiences all the time.

Other views of identity is it being like a soul. That's probably why people feel they can't change their views: I'll always be christian. I'll always be gay. and so forth. It's not a fixed thing. Our spirituality and sexuality (for examples) are fluctuating. I just feel that we have a dominate. But don't take for granted that you "can" change. It's an uncomfortable feeling but life has always been like that: a process.

Unveiled Artist said:

I liken to The Buddha's point of view. He mentions that we don't have a fixed identity. For example, if we had a hill. On the hill is squares, each lining an identity: LGBT, woman, christian, so have you. The hill is life. You are the ball at the top of the hill. As you're rolling down, you slide across various identities that are still you but they are not fixed. So, they don't define you.

So, my identity, going by this view may be LGBTQ one day and woman the next. The thing is, we can't tell that our identities aren't fixed. One identity flows into another and we say these things are "who" we are. That view makes sense: child of god, queer, so have you. On the other hand, that's trying to make us eternal as if we don't change. One child of god converts to a follower of Vishnu. One person who thought she was lesbian, found herself as a bisexual later in life. So our identities change in that respect.

Identity isn't fixed (it isn't a "soul"). It's always changing. Just people feel that if they change, they loose what they had. If they become Hindu, they drop christianity like a plague. We are made up of a lot of things and experiences.

Maybe identity is learning how to deal with change. Once you grow and understand change, you're not hooked to one identity over another. It disappears. One flow. Enlightenment. There's no end to this cycle. We build up experiences all the time.

Other views of identity is it being like a soul. That's probably why people feel they can't change their views: I'll always be christian. I'll always be gay. and so forth. It's not a fixed thing. Our spirituality and sexuality (for examples) are fluctuating. I just feel that we have a dominate. But don't take for granted that you "can" change. It's an uncomfortable feeling but life has always been like that: a process.

Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply @Unveiled Artist Your thought about identity is a good way of seeing it

Are my views my identity?

I feel that one only rises to one's initiated endeavors and only limited by one's own cognizant` capacities or whatnot.
OR....when one dies....one dies !

Aupmanyav said:

Are my views my identity?

Click to expand...

Difficult question to answer in a good way But how we view different things in this world kind of identify who we are, at least toward others, don't you think?

But this was also a reason for the OP, What is identity actually?

Identity is the differentiation of me from all others living. Me is the whole of my existence. I may be an ever-changing me, but it's inescapably who I am. Take away the I then I am part of everybody and everything. Perhaps a mere occurrence of whatever goes on around me. But there is will and what makes the will happen whereas I can say yes or no to many things. There is heart where emotions come and go. I become affirmative, neutral or opposing in my heart. My will and my heart are existing as a unified whole. They are not anybody else's will and heart.

I don't see where denying the 'I' is of any benefit. The I is why relationships are commitments that differ from person to person. I could deny my I and live in a totally selfless state if I were totally selfless. And if I had no heart neutral, for, or against anything then I would be blowing in the wind wherever anything takes me.

It's often said in my perception that we must let go of the I to be truly humble. And perhaps whatever is left from totally letting go of the I, is truly you. It may be an interesting practice. But at the end of it I always end up desiring love for me by those who truly understand me. Concerns arise and the will from my heart to defend, and explore arises.

Perhaps identity is how I view myself, rather than how others view me.
As for the 'I', like Nagarjuna and Sankara said, how much truth one wants? Absolute, then no 'I'. Pragmatic, 'I' is there. Two level truth.

Amanaki said:

If this OP is in the wrong area of the forum, mods please move it to the correct area

When we speak of identity we often think of what we identify as or who we wish to be seen as. But what happens when we losing the identity and we stop putting our self in a category of this or that.

An example can be, when we first time enter this forum, we identify our self one way, but in time this identity may change depending on our journey through life are we the same identity later on in life?

Does my identity change according to how you who do read this, experience Amanaki? or is the identity of Amanaki always the same?

We often say, personally I think so and so, or personally I believe so and so.
But who is it that experiences it? Who IS this personality?

Click to expand...

I think identity is "perceived" differently as interactions are increased. As far as "what is my identity" - that changes too. The more I find my identity through the work of The Cross and the life of Jesus, the better my identity becomes because it replaces my fallen idendity.

Identity is one of the unsolved mysteries of philosophy. It is as old as the paradox of Theseus' ship and discussed by many famous philosophers. In the philosophy of mind (more a problem of the permanence of consciousness than permanence of objects) it has been treated in "The minds 'I'" by Hofstadter/Dennett.

Amanaki said:

If this OP is in the wrong area of the forum, mods please move it to the correct area

When we speak of identity we often think of what we identify as or who we wish to be seen as. But what happens when we losing the identity and we stop putting our self in a category of this or that.

An example can be, when we first time enter this forum, we identify our self one way, but in time this identity may change depending on our journey through life are we the same identity later on in life?

Does my identity change according to how you who do read this, experience Amanaki? or is the identity of Amanaki always the same?

We often say, personally I think so and so, or personally I believe so and so.
But who is it that experiences it? Who IS this personality?

Click to expand...

Hello my brother, Amanaki.
If I may share an understanding with you..

Good morning! or shall I say good evening!....but, which is it?

Does one really know what they are saying?

Can somebody tell me! Whom they are of the morning?..
And say to me! Are they the same person in the evening?..

The Day and the night are two completely different persons (of you)...does one know how? Would they know why? Let me enlighten you..

If you had not realised, your NOT yourselves in ‘The Morning’(day)...you become of ‘YOUR WEAR’ to some(thing) else from your occupation, and that some(thing) else now has became of your some[one] else...and NOW be [IN] ‘The Many’ of ‘YOUs’!(and that is how THEY came to ask of [their] THINGS in Proofs & evidences).

“Do not worry from morning to evening, and from evening to morning of [what] you will [wear]”.

And in The Evening..is where they spend their night time (thinking) whom they’re we’re during the day, too, who they be of in the next day.

What is the point here? Why worry so much for something that does not MATTER!..something that was never there in the first place..now by this way; YOU are not living a life(alive)..you only EXIST in life..and nothing else. If you don’t know the difference..Exist also means to ‘Survive’, Alive means to be ‘Free’...in other words: YOU are ONLY surviving.

If your still working..your most likely to disagree of what I tell you, but if you ask anyone that is now at the age of retirement..they will tell you different.

They(Gods children) will say to you, nothing matters but your own loved ones..for they would’ve now realised from their own life experience..that not everything in life is what they’ll expect of.

Except those retired and disagree of every(thing) I said...they are the ones who don’t have (common sense), they did not, and will not learn from their own experiences..(like I said earlier; a THING does not know WHAT/WHERE/WHO/HOW they are). And they’re EASIER to spot out..through their arrogance and them ego..will show it off(Pride) in their own QUESTIONS(what/who/where/..etc..).


You either grow up wise...and if by chance they don’t, They grew up grumpy.


How do I know all this...
I am ‘The Morning Star’...
A Light which brightens more than Daylight.

God bless..Amanaki.

Workman said:

Hello my brother, Amanaki.
If I may share an understanding with you..


Good morning! or shall I say good evening!....but, which is it?

Does one really know what they are saying?

Can somebody please tell me! Who are they in the morning?
then tell me..are they the same person in the evening?

The Day and the night are two completely different persons (of you)...did you know that? Do you how? Let me enlighten you..

If you had not realised, you were NOT yourselves for the morning(day)...you became in ‘YOUR WEAR’ to some(thing) else from your occupation, and that some(thing) else has now became some[one] else...YOU!(and that is where YOU came in asking for Proof & evidence).

“Do not worry from morning to evening, and from evening to morning of [what] you will [wear]”.

In the evening..you’ve spent your night time (thinking) of whom you were during the day, and then, whom you will in the next day.

What is the point here? Why are they worrying so much for something that does not MATTER!..something that was never there in the first place.

If your still working..your most likely to disagree of what I tell you, but if you ask anyone that is now at the age of retirement..they will tell you different.

They(Gods children) will say to you, nothing matters but your own loved ones..for they would’ve now realised from their own life experience..that not everything in life is what they’ll expect of.

Except those retired and disagree of every(thing) I said...they are the ones who don’t have (common sense), they did not, and will not learn from their own experiences..(like I said earlier; a thing does not know what they are). And they’re EASIER to spot..through their arrogance and them ego..will show it off(Pride).

You either grow up wiser...or if not,
You grow up with grumpiness.


How do I know all this...
I am ‘The Morning Star’...
A light that is brighter more than of their own Daylight.

God bless..Amanaki.

Click to expand...

Wise words Thank you for sharing it

Invisibilis said:

One of the tasks of the mind, through our senses, is to make sense of the world our body walks through. However, our brain does not have nerve endings of its own. As a result, the mind cannot sense the brain, and itself. It cannot make sense of it. So the mind starts gathering information, from its memory banks, about what the body has done, achieved, thought, feelings, etc to fabricate a story about its 'self'. In affect, the mind has fabricated a story about 'self' to identify itself.

However, the mind knows it is just a fabricated story, and invalid as something real. It discovers that if it denies the identity as a story, it would seem that the 'self' or ego can seem valid. To keep this false pretense up, the mind has to keep busy in validating itself. "look at me", "I know", "I am better", etc.

What the mind fears most is the truth of its identity as being invalid. Any truth that may expose its truth is seen as a threat, and will quickly try the turn the treat around. If the identity is under great threat of becoming invalid, the mind may even think "I am losing my mind".

The good news is that the mind, through living a life based on honesty, can learn to no longer trust the 'self' to be valid. In other words, it can be okay without an identity. Instead of being a some-body, it is okay to be a no-body.

Click to expand...

I would not try applying that to everyone. As that sounds more like a classic narcissistic personality.

Amanaki said:

If this OP is in the wrong area of the forum, mods please move it to the correct area

When we speak of identity we often think of what we identify as or who we wish to be seen as. But what happens when we losing the identity and we stop putting our self in a category of this or that.

An example can be, when we first time enter this forum, we identify our self one way, but in time this identity may change depending on our journey through life are we the same identity later on in life?

Does my identity change according to how you who do read this, experience Amanaki? or is the identity of Amanaki always the same?

We often say, personally I think so and so, or personally I believe so and so.
But who is it that experiences it? Who IS this personality?

Click to expand...

Overall such change is a good sign. As it indicates that you still have rational thinking, where you can compare different thoughts/ideas/facts/etc, come to decision, then CHANGE your beliefs which in turn affects your personality. Which is what all spiritual paths should be about.

Ancient Soul said:

I would not try applying that to everyone. As that sounds more like a classic narcissistic personality.

Click to expand...

Yes, everybody who pays attention to their own fabricated identity story, even when it seems unworthy, has a basis of self-importance.

For some people, their 'self-fabricated identity' fears its own truth so much that they rather die (suicide) than to accept its truth as invalid (unworthy). Those that can accept their own truth will be free of being dishonest. In their new honesty they will realize that everybody else who is dishonest are busy building up their self-esteem, their dishonest self-identity. Those who are honest, will realize that they are not here for self, but for their innermost being which they know is true (not false or fabricated). It is that part of every human being which 'knows' the truth when it hears it, for it 'touches' our heart with love whenever we become conscious of what is true.

Amanaki said:

If this OP is in the wrong area of the forum, mods please move it to the correct area

When we speak of identity we often think of what we identify as or who we wish to be seen as. But what happens when we losing the identity and we stop putting our self in a category of this or that.

An example can be, when we first time enter this forum, we identify our self one way, but in time this identity may change depending on our journey through life are we the same identity later on in life?

Does my identity change according to how you who do read this, experience Amanaki? or is the identity of Amanaki always the same?

We often say, personally I think so and so, or personally I believe so and so.
But who is it that experiences it? Who IS this personality?

Click to expand...

Identity in the physical is based on experience and logic. Identity in the spiritual occurs at the Christ conscience level or your heart chakra, or however you can understand it. It involves getting your heart right first then understand by seeing through your heart, hearing through your heart, knowing through your hearts understandings, not necessarily your own logical choices.

Identity is an id plus an entity.

I hope that helps.

Mychael said:

Identity in the physical is based on experience and logic. Identity in the spiritual occurs at the Christ conscience level or your heart chakra, or however you can understand it. It involves getting your heart right first then understand by seeing through your heart, hearing through your heart, knowing through your hearts understandings, not necessarily your own logical choices.

Click to expand...

This to me does not sound like an identity, but more like a process of thoughts and feelings. Identity speak more about who you are and how others perceive you