Meditation and the Self

Tonight, I led a meditation group. After the meditation, we began to speak about the self. What is the self? Who am I? I knew this would be a difficult question. I certainly didn't know the answer, but wanted to hear everyone's truth. I do know, however, that in a deep state of relaxation, when all the "noise" is quieted somewhat, we're more likely to find ourselves, experience ourselves, know ourselves perhaps.....

So the answers varied. Some people seemed to have a very good idea, while others were more confused.

I liked that.
There really is no "right answer."

In many of the guided meditations I lead; I say "You are not the body, you are not the mind, you are not the intellect, you are not ego. You are something far greater, a divine child from an almighty source. Perfection, waiting to be realized. Realize it now." An incredible yoga teacher of mine would say that in her relaxation exercise, after the class.

I believe it is true. We are all so much greater than the sum of our parts. And how often we diminish ourselves in our minds, when we succumb to the limited idea that we are just a conglomeration of our thoughts and feelings.

Think about it. You have a feeling. You have a thought. They change. How can you be that feeling or thought?

Yet, somehow, we also should not reject those thoughts and feelings. They are a part of us. We have them and that's okay. But do we need to hold on to them as if they define us?

Or is there something better?