Identity and Names.

[Maso]

My given "Christian" name is Michael, and my family name is Ellis.
I have a middle name, it is Maso. Maso is also my online name.
Like most people I have been called some nicknames in my lifetime., includeing Mick, Mikey, Mike, Junior, Possum..the list goes on.

I am not christian, and certainly not Michael the archangel, but I am a memeber of the (my..there is more than one Ellis family) Ellis family. I am not a possum, but I dont mind being called Mick.

All of my names have thier own special meaning to my identity, and all are used in different ways.

Has anyone here changed thier official name to something different from thier birth name?


Names, like all words, are so powerfull to us. Any time we here our name, we instantly become more attuned and aware of the attention it signifies. I read that in some cultures, the people dont name thier children untill around 5 or 6 years old, believing that a name is closely linked to a soul, and that children are not fully fledged members of society (spiritally and physically) until thier nameing.

A name is a tool to help us exist in society. Im interested in the concept of being without Identity, and the issue of names cropped up for me.

Since beginning spirital learning, I have felt my identity slip away, as I understand is normal. Of course I have reidentified with new things and ideas, as is normal, but still, I feel that my identity has limitless boundries in comparison to before I "fell in my rabbit hole".

My point is: Are we so Identified with our names that living "I am" instead of "I am Michael" is impossible? Could a changing your name truly have any affect on freeing oneself of identity? or would changeing your name be another illusion of identification?

Im interested in peoples ideas on this topic.

Cheers,

Maso

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Maso

My point is: Are we so Identified with our names that living "I am" instead of "I am Michael" is impossible? Could a changing your name truly have any affect on freeing oneself of identity? or would changeing your name be another illusion of identification?

No matter what… I think that most of us only have an “illusion of identification.”

The identity that we adopt (and I stress adopt) was suggested to us by our parents, peers, siblings, teachers and society in general… but, even in the best of scenarios that identity is way too restrictive…

The true identity is like an open slate… or a hard disk onto which can be added just about any concept or notion… our true identity is also much like a raging river… ever changing and adapting to internal and external conditions…

However, we should chose very carefully who we believe ourselves to be… because we will act, perform and behave exactly as who we perceive ourselves to be…

.

[Maso]

Two Identities then.

Ego Identity, which is named, and True Identity which needs no name?

The Ego Identity is an illusion, a tool to be used in society. Something for us to have power over if we choose (albeit not easily). If we choose not to have power over it, it will control and consume us.

True Identity could be equated to soul? or the bit of "us" that is aware and more highly concious than our Ego Identity?

Does it have a name? I dont think so, becuase nameing it would be missing the point.

Who said "Everything we think we are, we are not..."

It is similar in this case I think.

[DaveTyler]

Pray you dont get a kundalini awakening, it will make you split personality:P

Read this: Schizophrenia - Multiple personalities


Forget the schizophrenia ************, everyone has this "multiple ego states" but the article is really good in explaining how and why we adopt and create these states

[Maso]

I have often thought we are all schizophrenic, we just live predominantly in one identity...

So sorry, that link didnt work.. Shigata ga nai.

[DaveTyler]

No were not all schizos and no most schizos isnt even splitpersonality.

Thing with those with MPD is that they dont remember anything from the other "ego states". So no.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by DaveTyler

No were not all schizos and no most schizos isnt even splitpersonality.

Thing with those with MPD is that they dont remember anything from the other "ego states". So no.

We may not be schizos but we all do hallucinate... that is, "live in a reality that is not shared by others..."

.

[DaveTyler]

Yes ego false perception, but none visual or audible hallucination