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What Are You? Exploring the Nature of Self
Martin Butler asks the existential question that has puzzled humanity for centuries: "What are you?" This seemingly simple query often leads to complex introspections and has inspired countless philosophical and spiritual explorations.
Many people, at some point in their lives, grapple with understanding their true nature. Initial, surface-level answers might identify oneself by occupation, relationships, or possessions, but these are merely functional definitions that don't touch the essence of our being.
Martin references several spiritual and philosophical teachings to explore this question further. He discusses Gurdjieff's emphasis on the experience of "I am" and Ramana Maharshi's notion that we are awareness, both of which suggest an inherent self that can be realized. Rupert Spira's modern interpretation advises being aware of our awareness, yet Martin points out the inherent conundrum in treating awareness as an object.
Drawing from Zen Buddhism, Martin suggests that the closest approach to understanding the self is the concept of "no self." This aligns with meditative practices where individuals focus on their breath without any expectations, embodying pure existence without clinging to any identity.
Philosophers like Spinoza and Schopenhauer have also contributed to this discourse. Spinoza posited that we are driven by desire, while Schopenhauer expanded this to the will to live, an intrinsic drive within all beings. However, even these notions fall short of capturing the full essence of our existence.
Martin delves into a philosophical distinction between subject and object. He explains that subjects are experiencers, while objects are things experienced. This division highlights that thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations are all objects, and the self is the subject that experiences them. However, during deep sleep or under anesthesia, when there are no objects to be experienced, the subject seems to cease to exist. This underscores the symbiotic relationship between subject and object, challenging the notion of a continuous, observable self.
Addressing the ideas of Rupert Spira, Martin critiques the complexity of explanations around awareness during deep sleep, emphasizing that true understanding should be simple and direct. The core takeaway is that the subject, or the experiencer, can never fully know itself because it cannot observe itself. Any attempt to define the self in terms of observable phenomena is inherently flawed.
Martin concludes with a practical approach, suggesting meditation as a means to come closest to understanding our true nature. Unlike other practices that chase after awareness or consciousness, simple meditation involves sitting with eyes open and being present without any specific focus, embodying the pure subjectivity of existence.
He echoes Albert Einstein's sentiment that the desire to survive physical death is an egotistical pursuit and highlights Socrates' view that deep, dreamless sleep is the sweetest experience. This detachment from the duality of pleasure and pain offers a glimpse into a state of being beyond the constant striving and suffering of life.
In summary, Martin's exploration of the question "What are you?" reveals that we cannot truly know our essence. Instead, embracing the mystery and experiencing life with a simple, meditative presence may be the closest we come to understanding our true nature.
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