Who is I?

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   Spirit Whispererposted 12 years ago

   When I was a boy I was intrigued by the the writing I saw on the altar table cloth that read: "Be still and know that I am God."
   
   This has captivated me for most of my life and only recently  have I truly realised the full significance of these words and how central they are to my life.
   
   I would live to hear what some of you have to say on the subject.

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      kessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I is the consciousness of being...the recognition of self...the realisation of existence.
      
      But there is incompletion to the question and it answer.4 there is no?purpose attached.....
      so who am I, what am I? is complete as the answer I am that I am.
      
      For it is being for the sake of being...

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         Spirit Whispererposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         If you sit quietly and and try to get a sense of what "I " is you find it is elusive. Try it and see.
         The question cannot be answered  intellectuality. Because "I" is beyond the intellect. It is like asking the computer io define the user.

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            kessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            I is me...an the beginning of knowing who I am....it is therefore not elusive to me.... For I am...and that the beginning of all knowledge.
            
            
            But to you I do understand... The answer that comes to you from you is the one thats works for you....and has nothing to do with me...
            an unless two of us are one, what else can you do but fit me into your mould....
            
            Where can you fit..I Am?

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               Spirit Whispererposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               No words can explain that which is beyond the intellect. "I am" , means nothing because we all make it all up. it is an illusion we all subscribe to and some of us are having fun while others use "I" construct to create a living hell.  It is all a matter of choice as long as you realsie none of it is real anyway.i

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                  earnestshubposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  I agree. my life is my myth. I will live it my way as will others.

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                     Spirit Whispererposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                     Well said!

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                  kessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  May I express the thought more accurately......
                  
                  Nothing is beyond the intellect...otherwise the intellect would not be intelligent thus nullifying it's ownself.
                  
                  It is impossible though for words to accurately describe the intellect.
                  
                  For the word is static, while the intellect is dynamic.
                  
                  
                  So as we use words to describe concept, we find that there is a never ending need to explain the explanation... and the original thought is lost in a chaos of words.

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                     Spirit Whispererposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                     I like the way you think but when you say nothing is beyond the intellect I cannot agree. Feelings are beyond the intellect. Also words are symbols used by the intellect to assign meaning to the mind's creation. In effect intellect is also a symbol of mind so mind is beyond the intellect.

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                        kessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                        Remember we are using words with its obvious limitation as previously expressed....
                        Therefore there is little need to clarify except to go show you the origin of your original question....for all we have discussed so far lead right back there.
                        
                        Who, what is I....
                        
                        
                        So have you realized that if  we get any further than  "I am".....(what ever Word)...
                        
                        We are merely recreating the cycle we have just been through...which is the clarification of thought(understanding) using deceptive words. which perpetuate more discussion, disagreement. until the all is lost is division.
                        
                        
                        Thus we see whensoever the "I" is divided it sees it self as many things, some which it claims for itself an others which it denies...
                        
                        This is the place of the original question.....Where the I is unsure of itself because of the division it has made of itself..
                        
                        But when the I is able to answer it self of it self it becomes single, Whole, one, and need not go further than.... I AM....
                        
                        
                        Now it is in a place of serenity, Peace, fully rested from all Labours, Full of confidence, Absolute, ,need of nothing.
                        
                        That is the  I

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                           Spirit Whispererposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                           Very nice.
                           Be still=stop dividing
                           Know that "I" is God = Only One exists

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                        Beelzedadposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                        Uh, the intellect and the mind are pretty much one and the same.

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                           Spirit Whispererposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                           No, they are not.

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                              Beelzedadposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                              Are you also not in possession of a dictionary? They are by definition one and the same.
                              
                              You're free to distinguish themselves as not similar. Please do.

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      Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I is self. Nothing more, nothing less.

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         Spirit Whispererposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         What is self?

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            Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            What is Self? You are kidding right?

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               Spirit Whispererposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               No I am not but you must be kidding if you think you can explain!

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                  Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  I is just a descriptive word used for self(the individual).

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               Twenty One Daysposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Actually Ray, he posed an interesting question. What actually is Self. What is the essence of Self, the origin or Self and the purpose of Self --apart from action-reaction to the environment Self exists.
               
               James.

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                  Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  I am glad you found it to be an interesting question. Not totally surprised by that.
                  Is apparently, beyond you. As I already explained that "I" is descriptive for self(individual)
                  Essence? Are you looking to establish a line toward "soul"? If so, then you're just pushing mysticism.
                  The origin of self is in recognizing oneself to be consciously alive. When someone can refer to themselves, as in "I am alive". I figured you would know that. Come on James.
                  
                  The "purpose" of self? Is derived by one making a purpose for themselves in this world. We had this conversation already once.

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                     Twenty One Daysposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                     These are the reactors of self, yes. But it does not answer the question of what is Self, the very essence/origin of it.
                     
                     If Self is the Individual, what is its origin; its prime directive called purpose, not the action of purposing.
                     
                     James.

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                        Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                        The only answer that would apply is consciousness. No other origin required, as well, as no other essence required either.
                        Prime Directive? Live Life.

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      Brenda Durhamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Well, He is God and all that that entails.  Awesome subject.  He is the great "I AM".

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         Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Hey Brenda, you didn't bother to read the forum thread, huh? I guess it was too much to do. Your response will be met with the same results as another post in the thread, which you apparently either didn't see or overlooked.
         
         But, nice try though.

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            Brenda Durhamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            What are you talking about?
            Goodness!
            
            That phrase "Be still and know that I am God" is from the Bible.
            But I suppose you haven't read it.....

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               Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Actually, I've read the supposed holy book. It's just as pathetic as it's followers.

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      Hauntyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I like this quote. However, if you post this, you should expect people to start thinking as opposed to just "being cool about it". Whatever it is.

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         Spirit Whispererposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Be still is exactly the opposite to what you propose! Be still in essence means to stop thinking. It is thinking that serves the ego. To experience God you must suspend thinking and your preconceived ideas and beliefs. God is beyond your thoughts and all of your descriptions so be still and know this!

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      Barbara Kayposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      In the Old Testament God told Moses "I am that I am" If you go through the Bible you'll be surprised how many times you'll find the phrase "I am".

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         Spirit Whispererposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         In the East the sanskrit equivalent is "neti,neti" which means "not that, not that". No matter what you come up with in your mind there is no thought or idea that can describe God and that is why we cannot say more than "that" about what is indescribable. God is beyond mind but yet people insist on describing Him and explaining Him when in the bible it clearly says that to try and do so is futile. To experience God...be still...(stop thinking) ...and allow God to be...without your ego interfering!

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      Woman Of Courageposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It's so refreshing to be still in God's presence, and to know without a doubt that he is God.

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   knolyourselfposted 12 years ago

   "This has captivated me for most of my life" A life long meditation.

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      Spirit Whispererposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I agree. This is a life long quest. Perhaps even many lives !

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   Niki Hamptonposted 12 years ago

   This is something I am currently exploring. Throughout my childhood and youth I had been exposed to about every type of religion and I never felt I fit. I went with the "I don't believe in God" thing for a few years and now am trying to explore myself through meditation.

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      Spirit Whispererposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Be careful because mind is involved.

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   L.K.kiruiposted 12 years ago

   'I' belong to God.

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      Druid Dudeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      "I" is the answer. "I" think, therefore, "I AM".  The secret of the creation of Man's reality.

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         Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Really? Interesting you say that.

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            Spirit Whispererposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Where do you get all those laughing faces?

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               Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               When you hit reply, look down underneath the right side of the content box, look for formatting.

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                  Spirit Whispererposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  P

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                     Spirit Whispererposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                     Thank you Cagsil

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                        Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                        You're welcome.

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      Spirit Whispererposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Kirui, who or what is God?

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   knolyourselfposted 12 years ago

   I would guess one kind of I is the decisions one makes.

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      Spirit Whispererposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      So if you don't make a decision does that me mean you are noy you?

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   knolyourselfposted 12 years ago

   "So if you don't make a decision does that me mean you are noy you?"
   Yea I didn't do it. It wasn't me.
   Or would guess not making a decision is a decision.

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      Spirit Whispererposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Too much thinking. Just be cool about it.

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   earnestshubposted 12 years ago

   Hi Cags!
   
   Thin pickins here on the forums today, not many threads that have discussions worth discussing.

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      Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Hey Earnest. Hope you're well. Nice to see you in the forums.
      
      And, you would be correct about the quality of threads running. However, you are free to open any you like...you know....jump start something?

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         Druid Dudeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Yeah, evidently cag left his jumper cables home today. He isn't sparking at all.

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            Brenda Durhamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            He's sparkin' alright.  Just in reverse it looks like.

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               Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               I would rather be heading in some direction, instead of standing with my head in the sand, like most.

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                  Brenda Durhamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  I would rather be still and know that He is God.

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                     Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                     More conjecture from the mouth of the religious. Again, not a surprise.

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            Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Sarcasm? I guess that's all you are actually good for. Not surprising.

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         earnestshubposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I may do that, it's been a while.......

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   L.K.kiruiposted 12 years ago

   Spirit whispere
   Asked me who/what is God? The only way to know or fail to know God is to think about, or fail to think about him ourselve, or like you said, meditate or fail to meditate. It is pointless, I cannot make you accept my ideas about God if it goes against yours unless you will think alot for yourself! Why should I teach you my concoctions if you can concoct it yourself? But I beleive that if everybody think well, we will all arrive at the same conclution!

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