Question of the Month: “Who Are You?” and Why Your Answer Matters

Question of the Month: “Who Are You?” and Why Your Answer Matters


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Welcome Members to our December “Question of the Month.” Kevin Schoeninger here.

This month, we’ve been discussing material from Deepak Chopra’s book, “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success.” In the first two Weekly Messages, we’ve explored the Seven Laws in detail. This week, we’ll talk about the essential knowledge that is the foundation for all of these laws, self-knowledge. As Deepak says, “Success in life depends on knowing who we really are.” (p.19 SSLS)

Self-knowledge is the entry point to a conscious life. It is also the key to success in life. Contrary to what the dominant culture may tell us about success, that it is about massive action, trying as hard as you can, getting ahead of others, or gathering up as much as you can for yourself, the truth is that real success and happiness begins with self-knowledge.

Let’s talk about two basic conceptions and experiences of self: self as ego and self as spirit.

If you believe that you are your body, or your thoughts, or your feelings, or your actions, or your wealth, or an isolated individual struggling to survive, you are living in egoic consciousness.

When you live from an awareness that you are an expression of life itself, a part of all that is, and a member of the One Life that we all share, you are living from spiritual consciousness.

As Deepak says, “When our internal reference point is our spirit, our true Self, we experience all the power of our spirit. When our internal reference point is the ego or self-image, we feel cut off from our source, and the uncertainty of events creates fear and doubt. The ego is influenced by objects outside the Self—circumstances, people, and things. It thrives on the approval of others. It wants to control because it lives in fear. The ego is not who we really are. The ego is a social mask; it is the role we are playing.” (P.19 SSLS)

This is not to say that the ego is bad. In fact, it is a necessary social construct. It enables us to move responsibly in the world. It enables us to make commitments and execute our choices in the relationships of our life. It enables us to say “I will do this,” “I did this,” and “I am responsible for these choices.”

It is our relationship to egoic consciousness that is important. When we believe that ego roles define “who we are,” that is the source of our suffering. When we identify with the masks we wear and the labels or possessions we acquire, that is the source of our insecurity and fear. These things are by their nature transitory, impermanent, and insubstantial. When we attach to them for a sense of identity and security, we live in constant anxiety. As a result, we engage in endless attempts to build up and bolster what is, by nature, insubstantial. The attempt to hang onto egoic consciousness and its props is the source of our negative experiences.

In contrast, when we understand that we are primarily, as Deepak says, “spiritual beings who have taken physical form to fulfill a purpose,” (p. 83 SSLS) we gain a different reference point from which to live our lives. We live as expressions of the field of Life itself.

As Deepak tells us, “There is no separation between this field of energy and our spiritual essence, our Self. This field is our own Self. And when we know that our essential nature is one of pure potentiality, we align with the power that manifests everything in the universe.” (P.18 SSLS)

If only we were taught this spiritual view as we grew up. It would save us a lot of pain and heartache if the spiritual view were broadcast to us consistently. Well, that’s what SGM is here for.

In contrast, the dominant culture tends to pull us into egoic consciousness. It defines certain possibilities for a good life. It tells us what is appropriate and desirable. We are here to grow up and find our place in society, gather the things that we need and enjoy, and take care of those around us. These are all good things, yet without a spiritual context, they will fall within the sphere of egoic consciousness, they will become “all about me, my survival, and my happiness.” We saw above how this inevitably leads to suffering.

So how does spiritual awareness differ? How does it define what is appropriate and desirable? What does it say about “who we are” and “what we are here to do now?”

Deepak tells us that, “each of us is here to discover our true Self, to find out that we are spiritual beings, or divinity in disguise.” (P.84 SSLS) Secondly, we understand that “each of us has a unique talent that we are here to express.” (P.84 SSLS)

These are the two sides of our purpose in life, our spiritual purpose and our purpose in the world. We put these two together in the concept of service. Service both recognizes that we are one with all and that we have something specific to offer for the benefit of all.

When we realize our spiritual nature, recognize our unique talent, and serve others by expressing who we are, we live the lives we are meant to live. When we offer our talents in service, we live in the flow of universal energy and we have access to everything that we need to do what we are here to do now.

So how specifically do we do this? How do we know what to do? How do we discern between what egoic consciousness tells us and what spiritual awareness tells us?

We’ve talked a lot on SGM about “feeling your body as a whole from the inside” and about using inner body awareness to be present and sense what is happening here and now. As Deepak says, “How do you make spontaneous right choices? By paying attention to sensations of comfort or discomfort in your body.” (P.42 SSLS)

Learning to discern different qualities of inner sensation is the key to knowing what to do in each moment. There are four dimensions to this inner knowing: body, heart, mind, and spirit. Your heart is a connecting point for these four dimensions. It acts as a summary of inner guidance.

Deepak says “Put your attention on your heart, and ask your heart what to do. Then pay attention to how you feel. The response may be the faintest level of feeling, but it’s there. You will know the answer is right because it will feel right, without any lingering doubts. The heart knows the correct answer because it taps into the field of pure potentiality and infinite organizing power, and takes everything into account. The heart is intuitive and holistic.” (p.43 SSLS)

Using your heart’s guidance as a starting point, Deepak elaborates on how to practice what you are here to do now. He says to take these five actions (p.66-67 SSLS):

1. Center yourself in the silent space between thoughts—in the essential state of Being. Allow your desires to arise from Being itself and learn to feel their quality in your body. Learn to recognize your inner sensations and discern your core desires in your heart.

2. Release your intentions and desires with the expectation that they will bloom when the season is right.

3. Keep your desires to yourself; do not share them with anyone else unless they are closely bonded with you.

4. Relinquish your attachment to the outcome.

5. Let the universe handle the details.

As you move through life keep in touch with your inner feeling. Develop your skill of discerning subtle inner perceptions. Stay alert to the opportunities each moment offers. When you encounter challenges, see them as opportunities to expand what you know and what you can do. Expect that life has a perfect solution to every challenge and that it is just a matter of being awake and aware enough to perceive it and follow it.

As Deepak says, “Look for the seed of opportunity within every adversity, and tie that seed of opportunity to your dharma, or purpose in life.” (p.44 SSLS)

In order to best fulfill your life purposes, keep these three things in your consciousness:

1. You are a spiritual being, you are part of the One Life that we all share.

2. You are here to express your unique part in the whole, to share your unique interests, talents, and gifts.

3. When you serve others through the expression of your unique gifts you fulfill your spiritual purpose and your purpose in being here, now.

The bottom line is to live from spiritual realization every moment of your life and to come back to that realization whenever you recognize that you have gone away from it. Inner body awareness is a great way to stay anchored in spiritual realization. Your inner body will also tell you when you have strayed from this awareness. You will feel an inner discomfort, an inner sense of being off track. This will signal you to return to seeing yourself from a spiritual perspective.

To close this discussion, I’d like to share this wonderful line from Deepak that summarizes the spiritual view: “Every person is a never-ending project of the universe.” (P.87 SSLS)

In next month’s messages, we’ll explore inner body, or energy body, awakening in great detail. Many of you are already doing this by practicing qigong or Core Energy Meditation. These practices develop your inner sensing skills and cultivate your energetic potential.

I would love to hear your comments, experiences, and questions about living from a spiritual perspective in the Comments section below this message.

Until next time,

Happy Practicing,

Kevin