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How to differentiate pure 'I am' from what I think I am? || Acharya Prashant (2019)
Acharya Prashant
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6 years ago
I am
Subjectivity
Self-inquiry
Ego
Atman
Non-duality
Identity
Shunyata
Description

Acharya Prashant explains that there are three primary conditions of human identity. The most common state is 'I am X', where the subject identifies with various objects or predicates. This condition is inherently unstable because no object can ever truly satisfy the 'I am'. This leads to a continuous cycle of hope and change, where the individual moves from one object to another in an endless stream of time and illusion. The second, rarer state is 'I am dash', where a person attempts to vacate all objects through discipline or repression. However, this state is often temporary and radical because the underlying subjective tendencies and the belief in the need for objects remain intact, much like a bachelor who is still mentally occupied with the idea of a partner.