Discovering the real identity

— Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshbhai

The biggest difficulty, the biggest mistake, the biggest sin of the soul, is that it derives its identity through others, from others. Who am I? What am I? This identity is obtained by peeping into the other, using others like a mirror. Just as when you stand in front of the mirror, you decide how you look based on the reflection you see. Similarly, you derive your identity and determine your personality based on what opinion or impression others have about you, and not independently. The Enlightened Ones say that this is not how you determine your identity. Identity acquired from others will be incorrect, uncertain and inconsistent. While one person says you are very intelligent, the other ridicules you as a complete fool; while one person praises you for being courageous, another considers you a coward. Who will you believe?

Have you ever seen Japanese mirrors? When you pass by them, suddenly you appear thin, fat, tall or short. In the Japanese mirrors, you don’t appear the way you are, but bizarre images are reflected in them. In reality these mirrors reveal nothing about you, they only speak about themselves. So too, in people’s opinions, varied images are reflected, the opinions that people express about you, do not reveal your identity but in reality, reveal theirs.

How Does One Attain the Real Identity?

Gurdjieff often told his disciples, “If you want to know yourself, you will have to leave the people aside; meaning you will have to lessen the importance of people’s opinions and stop looking at yourself through the eyes of others.” Real identity cannot be known by increasing one’s acquaintance with people. In fact, it will be truly known only when people’s opinions hold no importance for you. You will not find your own identity by searching into others’ eyes, but you will do so by closing your eyes, by turning within.

What is your real identity? You are the Self, different from the body. You were, you are, and you shall always remain the supreme light of Consciousness. This is your real identity but you believe that ‘I am the body’. You experience sorrow, agitation and misery, only because you identify yourself as the body. As you focus more and more within, a moment will come when your attention will get fixed within, and transcending all thoughts, you will experience the wondrous Self which is a storehouse of endless virtues.