Who are we?

Question

Since my entire personality can be affected by an illness, physical or mental, then it stands to reason that I, am transient, I do not exist. Or is there an essential, you, essential I?

Answer 1

I am non-existant. My mind is my own enemy.

Answer 2

One answer is that you are a different "you" right now then you would be if you were affected by an illness; you would be affected so much that the current you would change into a different you. Essentially, you would be a different person. Some people also believe, because all of the cells that make up your body at birth are replaced many times over before you die, that you are physically a different person at different stages of your life. For example, some don't worry about what will be happening to them in say 30 or 40 years because by they litteraly think they will be a different person. However, I think it is fair to say that as long as you have consistant memories of your lifetime, you are the same person. Although, then comes the question about people who have lost their memory due to one thing or another. Are they still considered the same people as before?

Another issue about memory is that at say 40 you have more memories than you did at 30 and those new memories have made your a different person.

Then there is the other possibility that no one else in the word exists besides me. "Cogito ergo sum"; "I think therefore I am". It means since I know I am thinking I am alive. Because I am aware that I am thinking, there is no doubt that I exist. However, there is no way to be sure that everyone else is thinking too, that all other people are not just zombies trying to take over the world. Although, it would be impossible to function normally in today's modern society without assuming that everyone else is a real, thinking person.

My own opinion on the subject is that we are the same person throughout our entire lives. Yes, our cells may change but out DNA is the same and the structure and physical appearence of our body and organs does not change and is unique (except in identical twins). Our memory does in part determine what kind of a person we are since our lives are shaped by our past experiences, but I believe that even if a person looses his or her memory, they are still the same person because it seems to me unrational to think they are a different person.


I hope this answers this question!

Answer 3

Yes. We are the basic, pure intelligence that nonexists before the personality. Yet most of us identify with the personality as ourself and thus reinforce a split in consciousness or division in mind from that intelligence (understanding awareness) which is the totality of being (God). Personality is simply our focal point in space, but we are the space (spirit) in ourself and as a whole--a nonliteral perspective. Even if we were to put our physical body aside and not think of ourself there will still be that intelligence which is. Such intelligence can never die or end. Only the image or concept of life has beginning and ending and so death appears real to the personality, who is living the image. But see (live) through the personality and our center of awareness is the nonpersonality (everywhere and nowhere), the nonliteral perspective (God). This may also be called living life or the resurrection of life, as life (whole being) is before experiencing.

Answer 4

To answer the question Who are we, understand that the word who refers to all that you identify yourself with and consider to be your identity. Of course this is very transient changing as the mind constantly changes focus and attention. This false identity is visible against an unchanging backdrop that is your true self. It is not perceivable but makes all perception possible. You can not know your true self through observation but the understanding that all that you observe isn't you or you could say you are all things equally. Once you realize that your predilections and identities aren't you they lose their powers over you and if they do remain it is mainly at a deep unconscious level for the purpose of guiding your body through social interactions. Aware of your true nature you can watch your body and it's doings without much concern.

Answer 5

Why is permanence attached to existence in your mind? Many things, in fact most things, are ephemeral but real in some sense of the word. The sun will cease to exist in another few billion years. The least thing affects its nature: Sun spots, solar flares, etc. Nonetheless, it shines. A river is always changing. Heraclitus observed that you can't step in the same river twice. Nonetheless, it remains a river.

Answer 6

Its all a masquerade, a big deception. An illusion created by the Grand Master. Indeed we are all transient, temporary visitors---- "just passing through"

Answer 7

Assuming that there is nothing beyond the natural universe, it would seem to me that there really is no you or I. "We" are merely illusions. Everything that "we" do is the result of mindless, purposeless, determinate chemical and physical actions and reactions. "I" don't exist.

Assuming that there is something more than this natural universe, soul, a divine nature... then there might be much more; we might really be.

Answer 8

A raindrop is an individual until it connects to an ocean, and so we are seperate souls of the one god. All human experience good and bad makes the one all knowing mind. I think.

Answer 9

We are spirit souls!
We are not this body.
We are not this flickering mind,
Sometimes loving someone,
Then it turns to hate!
This body will completely decompose
When,at death,the elements return to dust.
While the soul will carry on living
Through another body!

Answer 10

I think that there is so much to be answered that has not been. I would say that just live to the fullest. Whether we exist or not.

Answer 11

I am what I because you existence in the neither world you make my existence possible