Who am I?

One question that has perplexed mankind since time immemorial is: “Who am I?” By this question, I don’t mean my name, position, race, faith, nationality or other such attributes that are all acquired and can change. By this question, I mean my inherent unique and unchanging identity.

Majority of people remained content and never even asked such questions. Many connected the ‘effect’ with a ‘cause’ unscientifically and developed ‘superstitions’. Rare ones went all the way to find true answer and liberate themselves. While finding the answer, they also realised it was so subjective that it could not be communicated to anyone else through words or any other means. They could only give pointers according to their own nature, period and circumstances. Thus various ‘religions’ were born around such rare individuals at different times of the mankind’s evolution.

Religion, indeed, is derived from two Latin words – re (again) and ligare (to unite). So, religion etymologically means that which helps one unite again with the origin. In this context, all religions are essentially the same, as their common objective is to help mankind find his/her original identity. Unfortunately, majority followers of all religions have misunderstood their teachings as ‘end in itself’ rather than just ‘means’ of subjectively reaching the ‘truth’.

Mankind today has access to a rich repository of divine pointers available in various religions of the world. Every person is different and hence needs a different way of finding the ‘truth’. The world itself is a beautiful laboratory in which every one is allowed to conduct experiment of truth according to his/her own temperament. Religion, in this context, becomes a private and personal affair between individuals and God. Siding with one religion alone is denying oneself the wealth of wisdom available in other religions of the world. Pointing fingers at each other’s religion is futile and shows complete lack of true understanding. I dream of families in which every member is free to choose a faith that suits his/her unique temperament. I also dream of societies and nations in which such families are respected and held as ‘models’ of true humanity. We have often heard of ‘Walk the Talk’. I suggest we ‘only walk’.