Warning: the following article contains concepts that may completely change how you think about yourself. Once seen, these things cannot be unseen.

The ancient Greek maxim, “Know Thyself” has been pondered by philosophers and seekers for centuries. But what is the self? Who is this “You” that you are to know?

Are you a body? At birth every cell is brand new, then the body immediately begins the process of regular renewal. The liver is replaced in about a year; the entire human skeleton is believed to turnover in about 10 years. A middle-aged person has swapped out all organs, tissues and bones multiple times.

For important things, the body does not need you at all! When was the last time you directed your body to digest food, fight infection or to keep your heart beating? Do you need to remember to breathe 24/7? Isn't the body completely unregulated by conscious control when you go to sleep?

“You” are not the physical body.

What about your thoughts and feelings? Are they actually generated or do they appear to spontaneously arise? Do certain environments, people, or songs bring the same thoughts and feelings to mind every time? Do you believe all of your thoughts or do you dismiss some? Do you have same thoughts and feelings you did a year, 5 years, or 10 years ago?

If you sit quiet in a meditative state, thoughts and feelings can be observed as things coming and going. Who is aware of this? If you don't have any thoughts or feelings for a while, do you cease to exist?

“You” are not thoughts and feelings.

What about beliefs? How many beliefs were you born with? Were you a Republican, Democrat or Independent straight from the womb? Have you changed any beliefs over the course of your life? When confronted, do you sift through and evaluate other people's opinions? Who is evaluating?

“You” are not beliefs.

How about personality? You're smart and funny, right? But relative to what?

Everything we think about ourselves is in relation to others. Perhaps Mom and Dad said we were “good kids” and that became what we believed about ourselves. Maybe classmates in school thought we were funny and smart or conversely dull and stupid. Are any of other people's thoughts really who we are? Thoughts and opinions of others become internalized and we are conditioned to act in a certain way.

“You” are not your personality.

But you say, “I am still aware and conscious of things.”

Exactly who is the “I” that is referred to?

Awareness exists. Consciousness exists. But just speculate for a moment that you do not “own” them.

The awareness “you” experience as you look out of “your” eyes is the same awareness “I” experience with “mine.”

Consider a university. There are classrooms, professors, students, libraries, administrators, books, dorms, fraternities, and sports teams. These things are real. But there is no real “university.” It is simply a concept with a label.

Consider “You.” There are thoughts, feelings, beliefs, sensations, awareness, consciousness and a body. These things are real. But there is no real “I.” It is a thought, a belief, but not a real entity.

“I” is a concept we are taught by everyone around us from the moment we are born. But if you really look within yourself, you will find awareness, but no separate “I.”

Take some time to really look for the “I”, just like you'd look for your car keys. Can you find it?

This is the concept of no-self. There is awareness, but no separate self. “I” is an imaginary reference point, a middleman which erroneously bends, filters and warps reality.

This is also the concept of non-duality. For if there is no “Me” there is also no “You.”

In Zen Buddhism this is known as passing through the Gateless Gate. It is to see through the illusion of self, that there is no separate entity behind the word ‘I.’

Thoughts and reason can bring someone to the Gate, but only the having the experience will allow passage through. Once the reality is seen, it cannot be unseen.

The true challenge of “Know Thyself” is looking honestly enough to realize there is no “You.”

Photo credit: lensonjapan

Also by the author on Medium: Quantum Love Mechanics

Author’s blog: Radical Humanity