On this, because I do believe that the amount of time an accurate understanding of self holds true is indeterminable, this entire viewpoint could be considered 'not even wrong'; there's no way to prove or disprove it. In the midst of oopadhi (suffering imposed upon you by others or external factors) you experience samadhi (to be free from suffering and to experience the state of one's own bliss). Excellent article. Raj Raghunathan, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor affiliated with the Department of Marketing at the University of Texas McCombs School of Business. The "I" Is More Complicated than the Mind Can Conceive. Essay. I am what I do This first answer to the “Who am I?” question revolves around your work and accomplishments in life. This is a question you have probably answered at least once in your life. But you're probably pretty spectacular in some way, and definitely good enough in most areas of life. “I am an uncle,” is the sixth wrong belief. Similar methods have been given in other texts. I am what I have "What is the purpose of life?" They aren't mentally focused on any particular thing during these moments but the mind isn't shut off either. The second theme is that the very act of trying to figure ourselves out may interfere with discovering who we are. I'm doubtful regarding the possibility of dropping our perceptive filters and seeing a true reality, but perhaps it is true. ", in both cases, I don't believe them to be problematic to the same degree as you. Extrapolating from the mere measurement findings, it seems that self-enquiry may reveal aspects of the self that may not have even existed before one embarked on the self-enquiry. So, a relaxed state opens avenues of thought. Who am I? The world is the puzzle itself. You are a husband because you have a wife. Who am I Quiz Questions for use in Quiz and Trivia Nights. By adding that 'now', I believe that it helps to mentally restrict the question in a way that makes both the question much more manageable and the answers much less imposing. Our choice of words, our diction, is very influential. As Descartes said, "I think, therefore I am." I am what other people say about me. “I am this boy’s father,” is the fifth wrong belief. I'm really excited about holding this quiz night now, thank you!" People often report having profound thoughts when doing mundane things. Curious to know more about finding myself, then read more on how to find myself. You can share it with your friends :) During that time I also became deeply depressed, was put on medication for anxiety , and entered what would be a very long relationship with psychotherapy. Further, I wonder if the practice of regularly asking "Who am I now? Your name identifies you to others. At the end of the quiz we will give you the result. is an incredibly complex concept to grapple. Who am I? Yet the question Who am I? So who are you? Unloved Daughters: 5 Accidental Truths My Mother Taught Me, Psychology Today © 2021 Sussex Publishers, LLC, How Competition for Connectivity Shapes the Cerebellum, Nutrition Can Strengthen the Immune System to Fight COVID-19, Sustaining Daily Activity Levels May Offset Depression Risk, Boosting Employee Morale and Happiness During the Pandemic. The first stage of moksha is where you experience a sense of neutrality towards problems and miseries. After entering this elevator, how does one know that he is going towards moksha? I need to think a little more about the difference between who am I and who am I now? WHO AM I? The truth is that we are not one person, but many people in one. subscribe your email for our latest news and events. There is no better time to dream about new ideas, new places, new ways to make money or creating a business. For example, many people saw a "devil" in the smoke that the 911 attacks on the World Trade Center generated. Finally, I can't argue against the fact that many decisions are made before we are even consciously aware of them, and that the rationales provided afterwards are fabrications we create for ourselves to fill in the patterns, but shouldn't the nature of those stories carry weight in determining our perceptions of our 'self'? "I am a guy who's hardcore into metal music and vintage Camaros." "Good evening, Sir and Madam, it is a great honour to have you representing the "Eleanors" tonight, Ma'am. Given these themes, I am personally pessimistic that the mind can be used to figure out the answer to "Who am I?" A passenger because you are on a train. If you think you answered incorrectly, you can always go back to any question and change your answer. This is known on Google Play as Brain Games of Riddle IQ Test, the app on Android shows as Riddle Quiz Brain Games, and the logo and splash screen just says 'Riddle'. That being said, I don't believe an eternal answer is necessary. Spiritual traditions, of course, provide various paths to "knowing oneself." Watch Akram Vignan's Spiritual discourses on TV all over the world. When you think back, where did I come from, how did I become me? Others make a god of wealth. Thanks for the responses Raj, as well as the questions. "I am a girl who loves unicorns and pistachio ice cream." By not knowing the answer to the question, 'Who am I? Finally, we—like reality itself—may be too complex and dynamic to be fully understood through our finite minds. is spontaneously associated with the loss or detachment of 'My'. We care a lot—at times, too much—about what other people think of us. In what is known as the mere measurement effect, researchers found that people who are asked questions about an activity or a product behaved differently from those who were not asked these questions. and "Who am I now?" No-mind might be difficult to attain but it is worth the effort. Some are not. View Answer Submit Answers Discussion. Who Am I? In the absence of these two, you are the Supreme Lord. There is no other method to acquire the experience of the Pure Soul other than through the Gnan and the Gnani's grace. 1. Would you ever consider the possibility that the self is knowable? Perhaps when your favorite basketball team loses, you suffer as though you lost. However, the door has been shut so tightly, that it is impossible to open it on your own. A father, a husband or a passenger? A unique non-sectarian Temple inspired by Akram Vignani, Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan. I would NOT include an experience unless I found it to bring productivity, joy and meaning to my life. Is Spiritual Enlightenment possible for those living a Married Life? To me, the may appear different but experientially, perhaps they are the same one. I imagine that other people find this question to be very interesting and meaningful as well. Can I know more about it? What this means for me is that while I may get an idea of who I am at any given point (an idea which may hold true for a substantial amount of time), because I am constantly going through new experiences and revising who I am relative to my changing world, previously created beliefs of self will invariably become outdated. Yes indeed there is God, and moreover, that God is with you. As mentioned earlier, we can certainly make some broad generalizations about ourselves through gaining familiarity with findings in psychology and through introspection. I work at….” Some "I am" things are obvious. Visit http://TED.com to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.What makes you, you? The internal suffering will go away. Yes, being unemployed is an awful feeling, however nowhere as bad as how you could feel if you jump into a job you really don’t want. ", as well as "Who have I been?". In the first stage of moksha, one experiences indifference towards any worldly unhappiness. If so, to what extent are you truly kind and honest? Your assurance is that your anger, lust, greed, and pride (krodh-maan-maaya-lobh) will go away. The Who Am I? All the suffering in life is because of not knowing your true identity. I am a material or physical being fairly recognisable over time to me and to others: I am a body. Is there any merit to this idea? That is the first stage of moksha. To me, a particularly alluring alternative is that of going beyond the mind. Dissolve the questioner. So then, who are you? For example, the mere act of asking yourself if you are a kind and honest individual may reveal that you are kind and honest. Make sure you check out our getting to know you games and activities for kids as well. What is the Importance of Self Realization? Likewise, as a variety of findings show, we are programmed to see patterns even if they don't actually exist, leading us to infer meaning in totally random events. If you say, “I am a taxpayer,” then that is yet another wrong belief. Consciousness enables us to feel the pleasure and quality of our existence, whereas the mind can't feel, it can only hypothesize, consider, and speculate. “I am forty-five years old,” is the eighth wrong belief. ', you keep on creating new identities of yourself, consequently going farther away from your true Self. How is it Beneficial? To be sure, we can make some relatively accurate broad-stroke generalizations about ourselves, e.g., "It is unlikely that I will ever smoke," or "I like Indian food better than I like English food." Interested in these topics? Defining yourself is a difficult process, whether you are writing a journal entry, answering an interview question, or trying to be happier and more fulfilled in your life. In reality, you are an eternal Soul. Does this process of identification help you, or just cause suffering? Given these themes, I am personally pessimistic that the mind can be used to figure out the answer to "Who am I?" This does not mean that the mind is totally useless when it comes to answering the question. “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” ~E.E. But, as studies on priming have repeatedly shown, our personality isn't as stable as we think it is. For infinite past lives the Soul has been hidden beneath a veil of ignorance. 3. This question - asked so often - suggests that there is actually a plausible answer. was What do you experience after a Spiritual Awakening? Certainly, the mere measurement effect will kick in once we begin to evaluate ourselves, but in the way that people can be influenced to donate blood more readily by asking the question if they would, we can influence ourselves through introspective storytelling. What is I? It seems plausible, in this state, that we can perceive reality as it is...what do you think? One needs to become aware of the I thought in the heart before it reaches the brain and hold on to it rather than let it identify with the ego. What do you identify with? Likewise, as Zimbardo's findings showed, even normal people can turn into mean-spirited disciplinarians under the "right" conditions. So who are you? ... answer sheets, a script for the MC, a way to score, a way to present the leader board and more... Visit QuizNightChief.com ... its going to save me heaps of time and take the pressure off me. It’s what you answer to when called. We can tell ourselves who we believe we are, and in telling that story, we can influence ourselves to be that very person. "), instead--or not asked any question at all--you may have a different perception of yourself. The answer can go a long way to help clear up the core of our identity. First, I acknowledge that 'self' in the sense of "Who am I?" The particular trait we manifest at any point in time depends on the circumstances in which we find ourselves. It’s Never Too Late to Put Yourself First, Four Strangers: A Dialogue Concerning Self-Presentation, Projection, the Building Block of Border Walls. Know Yourself. Is It OK to Feel Good During the Coronavirus Outbreak? The same effect as over-focusing. Almost as if our being were a fixed thing. Human beings are hyper-social creatures. What can be gained from that? It would be interesting to look more into this. This does not mean that the mind is totally useless when it … Further, and this is why the mind is particularly ill-suited for figuring out the self, even if the stories we tell ourselves about who we are, and why we did what we did, are sometimes true, we are unable to discern whether our self-told stories are true or fabricated. What are the milestones on the spiritual journey towards the Omniscience (Keval Gnan) state? How many different memories, ideas, and things seem like a part of you? Who am I? It’s not easy work. Within these years I worked hard to get where I am right now. ": "Who am I now?" "What on Earth are we doing here?" It is known as “A Clean City, Green City & Pure City!!!”. And often, this means that our mind just makes up stuff that doesn't really exist. Why do I need to know who I am? However, in a sense, that's the story you have told yourself and, as you mentioned, you will likely "fulfill" that story. What is the Scientific Understanding of 'Who am I?' Similarly, many of us are convinced that basketball players (as well as other sportspersons) go through hot hands and cold hands even when the players' performance is merely going through random cycles. The truth is that you are a father because you have a son. because the current set of thoughts/situations will weigh heavily in the answer to the question. I am a man of my time and a representative of this generation. Once 'My' becomes detached from the 'I', everything becomes clear. (Mostly, we like to think of ourselves as well-meaning, smart, and talented—a phenomenon known as the self-serving bias or the "Lake Wobegon Effect".) The idea is to switch off the mind such that you can get to know the reality "as it is"—that is, perceiving reality without the filter of the mind. If you're struggling with the question "Who am I meant to be? Spirituality is a tricky subject that I have little personal experience with, which makes me hesitant to comment on its potential. The question: "Am I my thoughts?" Until you realize your true Self, you believe yourself to be the name that has been given to you. You may have multiple names! Indeed, a plethora of findings in decision-making suggest that we are routinely blind to the true determinants of our judgments and decisions--a notion that is oft-repeated in the work of behavioral economists. And what would you find out about who you are if you experienced the state of no mind? The mind can be "off" at the same time that consciousness is fully alert. With the grace of the Spiritual Master (Gnani Purush), it is now possible to realize your true Self via a scientific process called Gnan Vidhi (Self Realization ceremony). Almost all spiritual traditions involve a practice of silence that encourages exploring the space of "no thought." For me, the process of self-discovery is never-ending. The Gnan Vidhi is the process that separates the Soul (Self) from the body (non-self). An answer that was known to several eastern philosophies, such as Advaita Vedanta and Jnana Yoga. However, those familiar with the major themes to emerge from psychology over the past few decades may realize that the mind is prone to some pitfalls that make it ill-suited for figuring out the self. Is there a God? Among life's big questions, the one that has always interested me the most is: Who am I? I’d read the latest book, hoping it held the key. The worldly life means to go away from your Real nature. The second way you can answer the “Who am I?” question is by basing your... 3. All these relatives are temporary adjustments and You are permanent. When someone opens the door for you, you can receive His darshan (see him). It is simply the best answer I have at the moment.]. Who am I ? Again, I still prefer to go with the idea that the 'self' in a definitive, eternal sense is unknowable. The italian poet, Eugenio Montale says it the best you can, I believe, I am no more. The fact that we are programmed to see things that don't really exist implies that our brain is not be capable of perceiving the truth about ourselves: we may be making up stuff about ourselves that isn't really true. In fact, the most accurate way to think of ourselves is that we exist as a broad set of potentialities, rather than as a narrow set of traits. Cummings At twenty-five I was happily married and had a great career, many friends, and lots of money. Moving on to whether I would entertain the possibility of a knowable 'self': I have thought about the possibility, and while it is difficult to conceptualize, it doesn't seem fully impossible (merely highly unlikely). In general, we exhibit many more shades of saintliness and sinfulness, introversion and extraversion, cowardliness and bravery, love and hate, vengefulness and forgiveness, etc. But the reward is well worth it: In my life I have been many things to, and for, many people. Posted Feb 07, 2012 Mind Teasers : Popular Logic Picture Grid Problem Difficulty Popularity We have 4 blue, 4 red, 4 green and 4 yellow hats. Moksha means to come to your Real nature. Thanks again for some insightful comments. "I'm a brainiac who gets excellent grades." When you really think about it, who am I? The Desire for Self-Discovery Can Interfere with Discovering the Self. A state of no mind? ", So, How Do You Figure Out the Answer to "Who Am I?". Will any answer ever satisfy me? Thereafter, you not only understand that you are a Pure Soul, but you also experience your true bliss. as much more salient that "Who am I? I believe that reflecting on the stories we tell ourselves is crucial to understanding our own 'self'. and explains that, after Self-realization, there are two viewpoints which resolve this age-old question. Do you really know this answer? ', you keep on creating new identities of yourself, consequently going farther away from your true Self. It's relaxed and moves freely, probably digging up and revisiting previously unresolved ideas, but without the pressure to perform. I am a person! I do believe that the question is unanswerable in any definite, eternal sense, however I'd like to pose then the question of "Who am I now?" There will not be anymore artadhyan (adverse meditation that affects the relative self) or raudradhyan (adverse meditation causing harm to others). Dada Bhagwan Foundation spreads the spiritual science of Akram Vignan - the science of Self Realization, as expounded by the Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan. Answer: Bill Cosby . It’s TIME to pump the brakes, slow down for a bit, and rediscover who you really are! A relaxed state however, frees the mind to move outside the forced focus imposed on it when trying to answer questions like: who am I or what am I or how do I fit in? To come to your Real Self is not difficult, but to live the worldly life as a relative self, (i.e., to go away from your Real Self), is always difficult. In other words, when someone is trying to answer who am I?, I think it is difficult for them to answer anything other than who am I now? online course on happiness. But you wouldn't know that in your daily experience. Had you asked a different question ("Am I capable of harming others? So all your identities, everything you believe yourself to be, are all dependent on something else. The best way to know where am I now is by looking into my strengths and weaknesses. A "No-mind" state shuts the mind off, blocking the process. are very similar questions, so much so as to be mostly identical; however, mostly identical is slightly different, and that difference is important to note. What is the answer for Riddle Quiz Brain Games Level 95 You know me but we are not friends. It took 21 years to create where I am today. This involved ruthlessly scouring every aspect of my life: mental well-being, diet, sleep cycles, relationships, career, exercise. “I am fair-skinned,” is the seventh wrong belief. Pujya Deepakbhai explores the question "Who am I?" Reviewed by Jessica Schrader. Once again, this is wrong. The Memory Problem That Makes Life Difficult for Introverts, The Transformational Effects of Bereavement, How to Parent Young Adults Who Move Back Home, The Psychology of Listening to Music During Sex. Discover Your True Self! This question concerns the central idea that shapes us, that commands our foremost loyalty. than we think we do. Your bosses are your blunders and your mistakes. Have you ever asked yourself, ‘Who am I really?’ Am I a father, a husband, a friend, an engineer, a passenger or a patient? as a particularly salient question to ask on occasion. While this question will run into the same mental situations as with "Who am I? Get the help you need from a therapist near you–a FREE service from Psychology Today. Which one is the easier of the two? All the suffering in life is because of not knowing your true identity. Smile and guess who! You do not have any boss in this world. The first scenario is when a stranger asks you, “Who are you?” Without a blink, you will answer, “Who am I? One does hear stories, of course. ", this quiz can help you figure out what really defines you. More generally, to what extent can you truly know yourself by asking questions about who you are? We like to believe that we—and others around us—have relatively stable likes and dislikes, and traits. I searched high and low for answers. Do you want to know about Self Realization ? These riddles are along the same lines as our collection of what am I riddles, but in this collection the answers are all famous people, characters, celebrities or roles in society.These guess who I am riddles are a perfect way to exercise your mind and to have a good time. “I am a businessman,” is also a wrong belief. The main aim of a who am I essay is to make the reader understand who you are and what you believe in. “May the world attain Ultimate Peace and may some attain Liberation”, Located 20 kms from Ahmedabad, Simandhar City is a place for spiritual progress. Everything associated with 'My' are obstacles on the path of liberation. Due to this, we have been unable to experience the true Self. ... 8 I am just arriving at the venue when what looks like a US Presidential convoy pulls up to the front door. It is the separation of the animate from the inanimate. Your belief that the "I" is unknowable is perhaps right. ", especially in times of uncertainty, reduce the compliance rates in experiments such as Miller's and Zimbardo's. Suggestions. Until you realize your true Self, you believe yourself to be the name that has been given to you. Of all academic fields, the one that appears most suitable for answering the question is psychology. The realization of, "Who Am I?" If ever there were a time to stop beating yourself up for being human, it is now. Do not think about the answers too long. But how does one get to the bottom of "who am I?". This effect lasted up to a year after the participants were asked the question! Furthermore, the conviction (pratiti) never leaves. Or I can feel my weight upon the earth, therefore I am." The first theme is that our mind isn't calibrated to perceive reality as it is, but rather, is calibrated to make sense of our reality. This is, of course, an fairly unsubstantiated claim at this point, only supported by my understanding that we do react differently depending on how things are phrased (evidenced by the plethora of synonyms, as well as the existence of buzzwords). There are two scenarios to this question. Here are four tasks that will help you answer the question, “Who am I?” Task # 1 – Dream. Until you realize who you really are, everything proves to be wrong and incorrect. I am hot but if you remove first two alphabets then I will become really cold. "Is there a God?" Enjoy and share. I am a living, breathing organism signified by the words ‘human being’. Further, we can also come to understand, though the use of the mind, that the mind has its limits, especially when it comes to self-enquiry. However, you must define who you are for yourself first before you can do it for another person. [Let me also say that I don't believe this to be the only way to attain internal peace. But one should be cautious in coming to much more specific conclusions about oneself. This distinguished looking couple step out of the middle limousine and are greeted by a gushing barman. So who am I really? As long as one's sense of self is harmonious with current actions, is reconciled with past actions, and is moving towards a personally positive future, then internal peace should be attainable (which I believe is a significant goal when asking "Who am I?"). The answer may be me. Who I am is … Based on personality science, I have identified seven "striving styles," modes of thought and behavior that direct us to seek satisfaction in different ways. Ask a question and Get an assured response. 2. Dear Raj, the who am I question is the starting point in the direct method of self realisation given by Sri ramana maharshi, the sage of arunachala. If nothing else, the nature of those stories at least provides a guide for examining our own "portfolio of potentials", which should not be easily dismissed as a shallow understanding of who we are as people. You are you, but then who is you? The question of who am I seems to be the simplest question one can answer. I’d watch to see what others said and did, assuming they had the answers.My M.O. Korean Zen monks practise a similar hwadu method. We ALL have hidden treasures inside us. I am the one and only. In general, the answer to this question is that I am a regular person who loves spending quality time with the people I appreciate. For example, our brain may make up reasons for why we decided to marry the person we married, or why we chose a particular product over another. It’s time for some who am I riddles that’ll keep you entertained and guessing all day. If the mind is off then awareness is nil. And I do not understand why I should not have my opinion, but I should only listen to someone else.