Decoding The Essence of Life Through Our Existence

“Life is like a river. The way of life is to flow with the current. To turn against it takes effort but the current will carry you if you let it. Float with joy and ease.”

Sooner or later – and at the latest shortly before our death – we think about why we are here, what keeps life going on this planet, how life started, what happens after death, why a plant grows from a seed, why do we die, whether there are other (inhabited) planets, etc. Perhaps we will also consider the future of the planet and ask whether the numerous and varied issues it faces can ever be resolved. It’s critical to understand the true source of our being in order to, at least in part, be able to respond to such issues. 

The cornerstone of all life on our planet is the equal right of all beings to live here, to develop here, and to perform their functions here, which is an amazingly straightforward solution to the issue. 

Does this make you rub your eyes? Are you not startled that the foundation of our existence is not a physical law or a chemical equation? Naturally, these activities are a necessary prerequisite for what we refer to as “life” on Earth. But the foundation of who we are is much deeper.

Life, as I describe it, is a circle. And the essence of this circle lies in three important philosophical questions, that humanity has been trying to answer during all of its existence on planet Earth :
Who am I?

Where am I?
Why am I here?

Who am I?

Let’s begin to answer this question by simply doing an exercise. 

Pause for a moment and look for the I. Can you find it anyplace at all? Did you just look at yourself? 

When you say “I,” you might refer to your body, yet this “I” is not just your body, is it? Does it reside in the body? What is it, if it dwells within the body, that is conscious of your body, conscious of your thoughts, and even capable of pondering this? Could that actually be who you are? Does consciousness, or awareness, only exist in the body or in the mind? What if you were that awareness and you were merely pretending to be bound to a specific body-mind in order to benefit from the experiences consciousness receives from it? Then, who would you be? 

These questions can keep you awake out of the illusion that you are the I, that you are a person who has certain beliefs, thoughts, tendencies, desires, memories, and dreams. The stories that the ego fabricates about itself have a significant role in defining it. But the true you is not your physical self, mental self, psychological self, or personality. 

What exactly are these labels, then? They are only concepts. Are you an idea, or are you the awareness of certain body ideas, mind’s labels, thoughts, wants, and feelings? The “I” is built up of ideas, and as ideas change frequently, the self-image is also quite unstable. The “I” you identify as being flexible and fictitious. It is based on stories you are now telling yourself and memories that you have also turned into stories. These tales have no inherent reality; they are merely additional concepts. They might as well be swapped out for different tales.

What ‘I’ is not is what you try to become. You will become someone else if you don’t know who you are. The majority of people end up being someone else. Because of this, we mask our genuine selves and adopt other people’s identities. We carry their logo. A corporation gains popularity and success by standing out from the competition. Their trademark is this. If you don’t have your own brand, you will use someone else’s.

Who am I? An Idea? A thought? Well, perhaps existentialists view the “I” as a creatively active pole of consciousness. If a person wants to become the real person he is meant to be, he must accept himself and take responsibility for himself.

The best response to the philosophical question “Who Am I?” was provided by Jesus Christ. He declared, “I am the Bread of Life, the Word of Life, the Spirit of Truth, the Life, the Good Pastor, the Door, and the Resurrection.” He was aware of the response to the query, “Who am I?” He was aware of His fate and the reason for His birth on this world.

Where am I?

We shall not cease from exploration,

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And know the place for the first time.

T. S. Eliot

The next question is where am I? Let’s begin to answer this question by simply doing an exercise. Pause for a moment and look around you. Ask yourself where are you? India, Asia, Europe, Africa, United Kingdom. Was your answer an observable universe? Or was it someplace off-center or beyond the milky way? I’m sure your answer can be anything and neither I am denying that you are right.

But the answer is not that simple.  Our natural state is to be in the flow. What could be more natural than experiencing our true nature, Essence? When the mind is quiet for a moment or stopped by something of beauty, for instance, we find ourselves automatically in the flow, in the moment, where peace, happiness, contentment, and joy are available. 

However, being in the flow isn’t only a nice state in which to exist. It is both living and infinitely intelligent. It is the source of all motivation, action, communication, creativity, insight, inspiration, vision, ideas, and wisdom. The events of life take place as they do. Life itself emerges naturally and effortlessly from the flow.

Don’t believe me, let’s do a simple exercise. Focus on the present moment without judging or making any comments on it. Don’t think; just be there. 

Simply acknowledge any thoughts or desires as they appear and then return to simply being. What stands out to you? Experience abounds in the here and now. Your bodily senses and more subtle ones are providing input. What bodily sensations are you having? What do you perceive? What sound do you hear? What can you taste or smell? All of these phenomena should be observed without judgment, interpretation, or narrative creation. Simply acknowledge any emotions that may surface. They will simply vanish into the same void that gave birth to them if you don’t get involved with them.

When you are fully sensing the moment this way instead of being in your thoughts about it,

you are in the flow.

Why am I here?

“Everyone needs to realize why am I here? It comes in everyone’s life; you ask why am I here? What am I doing? Once you are able to answer that question for yourself honestly, you have smooth sailing.”

Jimmy Cliff

So, now comes the last question why am I here? Again, I request you to take a pause, and this time close your eyes, ask yourself- Why am I here? What came to your mind? What was the first thought, was it purpose? If it was, you are right. 

So you are here to fulfill your purpose, to fulfill your destiny. And what is life’s purpose? So, Life’s purpose is the motivating factor that guides our life decisions, shapes our goals, and influences our behaviour. It gives us meaning and a sense of direction. It may vary from person to person, so it is unique to every individual. If fact if you want to know more about life’s purpose, read this blog: What is life purpose? – xMonks

So, your goal is to fulfill your purpose and live in alignment with it. You must always align with Essence rather than the ego in order to fulfill your life’s purpose to the fullest. As it always does, the ego will try to guide you, especially if Essence hasn’t yet indicated what comes next. Making peace with ignorance is a prerequisite for living from essence. When dealing with Essence, you are unsure of what to say or do until it really happens.