Can you live without identifing with anything?

[china]

Is it possible to forget oneself without any motive? Because, we can see very well that any motive has within it the seed of the self with its anxiety, ambition, frustration, its fear of not-being, and the immense urge to be secure. And can all that fall away easily, without any effort? Which means, really, can you and I, as individuals, live in this world without being identified with anything? After all, I identify myself with my country, with my religion, with my family, with my name, because without identification I am nothing. Without a position, without power, without prestige of one kind or another, I feel lost; and so I identify myself with my name, with my family, with my religion, I join some organization or become a monk—we all know the various types of identification that the mind clings to. But can we live in this world without any identification at all? Just wondering.

 

[johai]

It was done a lot during the war in Viet Nam. But I do understand what you have said.
Yet what may be essential is identification with yourself first, everything else comes after.
Keep up the good work China. We need to not forget. Sincerely, Johai

 

[dj03]

But can we live in this world without any identification at all? Just wondering.

I think we can, at least for periods of time, but you have to be cautious that you don't end up identifying with a lack of identity, otherwise you basically end up in the same place you were trying to leave.

 

[china]

johai,
Thanks for the post

It was done a lot during the war in Viet Nam.

YES ,I have thought of the soldiers in general, not only in Viet Nam

 

[Curiosity]

China

I love that question - and my simple answer which does not answer the query at all but here it is:

Humans are territorial - to be in a place one must have a being (personal identification) and a name to call that place of residing - if it is a corner of a street or a mansion on a hill - it is one's place on earth. We also have innate likes and dislikes from experiential learning.

Homeless wanderers are thus because they have little self-identity upon which to fix their place in life and what to call themselves. Society in modern times either collects these placeless nameless individuals up into groups to be warehoused (or fixed if possible) because society insists we must 'be' and 'inhabit'.

Is it necessary to our well-being and our quality of life? Perhaps. Or perhaps not.

Another word comes to mind: Freedom.

But that would belong to the individual to decide.

Curiosity

 

[china]

Hi Curio ,Great to "see" you again ,Thanks for sharing your point of view of the topic .
China

 

[china]

dj03

Thanks for your post dj03 , China