The Art of Being No One

Part of any “Awakening” involves disidentification with who you believe yourself to be.  You might think to yourself and even say to others, I’m a: Mom, Engineer, Sister, Uncle, Yogi, Healer, Female, Human Being, my looks, my physical body, my thoughts, my emotions etc.  Although these can really, really, really feel and seem that we are these things--we are not.  These are all roles that we “do” in life but it is not Who we are.  

So, who exactly are we then?  Each of us is a unique reflection of the interconnected whole, an essence.  When we come across Some One, we instantly label and identify them.  Man, white, old, thin, well dressed, loud. Next person, child, playful, cute, pink dress.  Ourselves woman, big, curly hair, high heels.  Language has given the gift to allow us to identify and connect but language cannot actually give the experience of Who someone is.  The art of being no one is acknowledging that all of the identities, stories and me/myself/I are verbal agreements to help describe something that is indescribable.  They are words.  Does an animal cease to be because they do not use words?  Would wind still exist if we had no word to describe it?  Words are merely directional pointers.  Saying wind and expressing the feeling of wind does not actually mean you experience wind.  This is akin to you.  You can talk all you want to yourself and others about who you are and you will still miss the actual experience, the quintessence of your being-ness… no one, no thing, no labels.  But I must be someone!  If I am no one, then how do you tell me from another no one?  You still have all of your roles and the body vessel you interface with, however you are awake to the essence that you are. 

​Here is a practice to assist in experiencing you:  Everytime you are driving, become excruciatingly aware that you are driving.  Feel your hands. Observe your breath.  Where are your feet? What does your butt feel like on the seat?  Take notice of everything that you see. What is the sensation in your chest?  Warm?  Cool?  (Everytime you realize you’re thinking and not feeling, bring your attention back to the above sensations.)