By Prana Lite 
Who Are You? A Journey to the Heart of Consciousness
No one can tell you who you really are. That might seem like a strange statement, because we live in a world where we are constantly being told who we are, what to do, what to think, and even how to feel. We are bombarded with messages about ourselves, from both outside and from our own minds. But what if all of those messages, all those stories, do not actually answer the question: Who am I really?
We are used to defining ourselves in terms of objects. I am my body, I am my thoughts, I am my emotions. We identify with what we can see, feel, and understand. But what if that’s just the surface? What if who we really are is not something you can grasp, comprehend, or see? What if your deepest identity is something that predates all those thoughts and feelings, something that never changes, no matter what you think or feel?
Let’s explore that together. Not through intellectual understanding, but through direct experience. Ask yourself: Who am I without my thoughts? Or perhaps, What remains when all thoughts, emotions, and sensations disappear?
Your first response might be: Nothing. And that can be a frightening thought. We are so used to thinking of ourselves in terms of things: characteristics, beliefs, memories, desires. The idea that there might be something beyond all those things, something formless and without fixed location, can feel strange and even uncomfortable. But let’s delve into that possibility a little further.
What remains when everything falls away?
Look at your own experience right now. Thoughts come and go. Emotions appear, linger for a while, and then fade. Even the physical sensations in your body are constantly changing. But you are still here, aren’t you? The “I” that says, I have this thought, I feel this emotion, I experience this body, remains ever-present. That “I” seems unaffected by the flow of thoughts, emotions, and sensations.
Could it be that this “I”, this always-present sense of being, is the core of who you really are? This consciousness, this awareness, that experiences everything but remains unchanged by what it experiences?
A subtle but profound shift
Perhaps now you’re feeling a bit confused. You might think, Okay, I get it in theory, but it doesn’t feel that way. This is perfectly natural. We are so deeply conditioned to see ourselves as a collection of attributes and experiences that the idea of a formless, objectless awareness is difficult to grasp.
But think about this: Have you ever experienced yourself disappearing? You’ve probably had the feeling of being lost in a situation, of losing yourself for a moment. But even in those moments, when thoughts and emotions completely consume you, there is always something within you that says: I am here, I am experiencing this. That is the quiet, unchanging awareness that is always present, regardless of the circumstances.
This awareness is like the space in which everything appears—thoughts, feelings, sensations, perceptions. The space remains the same, no matter what appears within it. Whether you’re sad, angry, happy, or neutral, the space in which these emotions arise remains untouched.
But what is consciousness, really?
Now the devil’s advocate might speak up: Yes, but consciousness must come from somewhere, right? It must start somewhere, and surely it ends somewhere? These are natural questions, because our minds always think in terms of time and space, of cause and effect. But here’s the crux: consciousness itself doesn’t fit into those categories.
Ask yourself this: Have I ever experienced the beginning of my consciousness? We experience the beginning of things—the start of a thought, the arising of a feeling, the birth of a new experience. But have you ever witnessed the moment your consciousness began? And likewise, have you ever experienced the end of your consciousness?
If you explore these questions carefully, you’ll find that the answer is no. You have never experienced the beginning or end of consciousness, because you are the one who is aware of all those experiences. It is consciousness itself that forms the constant background of everything you experience.
What does this mean for you?
Here is where the great realization begins to dawn: consciousness is always here, it is the one constant. Everything we know about the world—our thoughts, our body, our experiences—appears and disappears within that consciousness. But consciousness itself is boundless. It is like a space that has no edges, no beginning, and no end.
This means that who you really are is not limited to the stories you tell yourself, the thoughts that run through your mind, or the emotions you feel. Who you really are goes beyond those temporary, changeable experiences. You are the awareness in which all of this appears. This awareness is not subject to the limitations of your body or your thinking. It was here before your body and mind appeared, and it will remain after they disappear.
Doubt and skepticism
Now you might be thinking: This all sounds lovely, but how do I know it’s true? Here’s the answer: you don’t have to take my word for it. In fact, I urge you not to simply believe it. Investigate for yourself. Look into your own experience. Ask yourself: Who am I really? Not as an intellectual exercise, but as a direct, living question. When you dig deep enough, beyond the layers of thought, beyond the layers of emotion, you will discover that you have always been the awareness in which all those layers appeared.
This awareness is open, empty of qualities, but full of potential. It is the space in which everything appears and disappears, yet itself never changes. Discovering this is not just an intellectual achievement—it is a liberating realization that can completely transform your life.
Open questions, not conclusions
You might feel inspired after reading this article, or you might feel skeptical. You may experience a subtle shift in your awareness, or you may still have questions. This is exactly the point of this journey: it is not a journey with fixed answers or definitive conclusions. It is an open, ongoing discovery.
So, I leave you with a question: If everything in your life changes, even your thoughts and feelings, what remains unchanged?
This is the beginning of your own journey to the deepest discovery of who you truly are.
