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Osho on What does 'I' mean in the question 'Who am I'?

What does 'I' mean in the question 'Who am I'?

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The 'I' in 'Who am I?' is not a question to be answered but a sword to cut through the illusions of the mind, leading you to the silent depths of your true being.

— Osho
Synthesized from Source definition
Core Insight:
According to Osho, 'Who am I?' is not a question seeking an answer but a meditative device; the 'I' means nothing—it's a sword to cut the mind’s projections. Repeating it and rejecting all answers (neti neti) dissolves the knower and the question, revealing inexpressible, direct knowing: silent no-mind, emptiness, your original face.
Keep asking 'Who am I?' until every answer drops away and even the 'I' disappears, leaving calm, wordless awareness.
Why this matters practically
- Cuts ego-identifications and mental chatter.
- Opens a felt sense of peace, clarity, and presence.
- Helps respond to life from awareness rather than conditioned roles.
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