“We are not our personalities. We are the consciousness that observes them.”
Breaking Free from Cultural Conditioning
Our cultural conditioning shapes our thinking patterns, creating what we believe to be our personality. But this is merely a construct—a collection of learned behaviors and responses that we’ve come to identify as “self.” The truth lies deeper, in the consciousness that observes these patterns.
In the Western world, we’ve become deeply attached to our personalities, working tirelessly to strengthen them while often dismissing others’ feelings. Yet, this attachment to personality—to ego—is precisely what keeps us from experiencing our true nature.
The East-West Perspective
The contrast between Eastern and Western viewpoints offers valuable insights into consciousness. While Western culture often emphasizes individual personality, Eastern wisdom recognizes the multiplicity of our being. We’re not limited to a single personality but capable of flowing through many ways of being.
“The mind belongs to this earth as your body does. When we die, both return to their source. What remains is consciousness—the true self that was never bound by either.”
The Illusion of Personality
Our culture has led us to believe we are our thoughts, our memories, our personalities. We invest tremendous energy in strengthening these constructs, often at the expense of our natural truth as human beings. But what if this personality—this ego—is simply a collection of experiences and conditioning from the world around us? The truth lies deeper, in the consciousness that observes all these patterns.
The Nature of Mind and Truth
Your body is of this world, your mind is of this world, but you—the true you—exists beyond these temporal constructs. The mind cannot perceive reality accurately on its own; it’s merely a tool, a storage device for experiences and data that we’re blessed to use temporarily. When we die, like our bodies, it returns to its source.
“We are not our thoughts, not our emotions, not even our carefully crafted personalities. We are the awareness in which all these phenomena arise and dissolve.”
The Western Pretense
In the West, we’ve been conditioned to pretend. We pretend we know something because we can remember it. We pretend we don’t feel things, first to ourselves and then to others. We pretend there isn’t a problem as a coping mechanism. We pretend our actions are solely responses to others’ treatment of us. This web of pretense keeps us from experiencing our true nature.
Beyond Memory and Information
This journey isn’t about remembering information or accumulating knowledge. It’s about perception—seeing the irony, the humor, the stark difference between what your mind tells you and what you know when you’re calm and at peace. The challenge lies not in understanding our experience, but in our tendency to take things personally and identify completely with our minds.
“The journey inward is an amazing journey of getting to know yourself using those that have gone before you. But for us in the West, it’s like sailing to an unknown destination.”
The Gift of Human Consciousness
Being human grants us access to the highest form of intelligence—consciousness itself. While our minds represent the mechanical aspects of thought, consciousness is the aware space in which all experience occurs. This awareness, unlike personality, remains untouched by worldly conditions.
The Power of Sensitivity
In our modern society, sensitivity is often viewed as a weakness. However, this perspective couldn’t be further from the truth. Being sensitive is like having heightened sight or hearing—it’s an enhanced ability to perceive and understand the world around us. The more sensitive we are, the more we can truly experience and comprehend life in its fullness.
Breaking Free from Reactive Patterns
Many of us live like barking dogs, reacting instantly to triggers without understanding or choice. Unlike animals, humans have the unique gift of consciousness—the ability to observe, understand, and choose our responses. This gift allows us to transcend our automatic reactions and create more meaningful interactions with the world around us.
The Multi-Dimensional Truth
In the West, we tend to see dimensions as one, while Eastern wisdom recognizes many. This isn’t just philosophical speculation—it’s about understanding that truth, like mathematics and natural laws, can be proven but isn’t easily comprehended. Some may dismiss it, others may resist it, but those who quiet their minds often perceive it naturally.
“The highest level of intelligence will always care for those who lack awareness. We are the caretakers of this world and others.”
The Path to Liberation
The journey to understanding our true nature isn’t about accumulating more knowledge—it’s about direct perception and experience. When we quiet our minds and observe our experience without judgment, we begin to see the truth that has always been there: we are not our thoughts, not our emotions, not even our carefully crafted personalities. We are the awareness in which all these phenomena arise and dissolve.
Beyond the Single Personality
As Sadhguru points out, it’s illogical to believe we should maintain a single personality in a world of infinite variety. The truth is that there are many different types of people, requiring us to be fluid and adaptable in our responses. Instead of trying to perfect one personality, we need to recognize our capacity to flow through many ways of being.
“We are trying to be our personality when all we need to do is just be.”
Practical Steps Forward
The path to realizing our true nature begins with simple awareness. Start by observing your thoughts and reactions without trying to change them. Notice how your personality responds to different situations. See if you can catch glimpses of the consciousness that’s aware of all these movements. Remember, you’re not trying to achieve anything—you’re simply allowing yourself to recognize what’s already there.
