Dive into the exploration of the essence of 'I' in meditation. Unpack the difference between the pure feeling of presence and the constructed identity of 'I am.' Discover how desires shape our identities and learn about the simplicity that comes from being present without labels. This journey emphasizes letting go of self-maintenance and enjoying the profound experience of just being.
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insights INSIGHT
From Identity to Presence
Meditation is about shifting from a fixed identity to a pure state of presence.
"I" alone supports presence without content; adding "am" introduces self-identity and stories.
insights INSIGHT
'I' vs. 'I am' Identity
"I" represents a simple presence unaffected by desires or aversions.
"I am" creates a constructed identity requiring continual self-maintenance and development.
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Excerpt from the teaching "1/2 Dependent arising. [EN-DE] Todtmoos 10.2024": https://youtu.be/5ipIBAmnTc0
So, this is the basis of meditation: not that you vanish, but that we move from identity to presence. "I am" — this is the formulation of my identity. We could all begin a sentence with "I am," and add many, many qualifications, but if we start the sentence, "I…" — very open — "I am…"
If you get the feeling tone of that, it might give you a sense: "I" is that presence. "I… I…" — if you like — it supports presence without content. But as soon as I say, "I am," I’m pulling in the content: "I am Scottish; I am somebody who comes to Germany from time to time." So many, many storylines can come into "I am." "I" doesn’t react to the gain and loss of desire and diversion; it’s just a simplicity of presence. But "I am," as a constructed identity, is condemned to the task of self-maintenance and self-development.
~ James Low
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Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0titPJrQGo