Who am I?

I saw this wonderful story about a monk who asked the question in the book about "Paths" by Andras Gulyas. It is open access book about paths in general. As the story is a fascinating one and related to mindfulness, I thought of including it here. It is short however I will tell it in my own words. The origin of the story is in the book Su-La-Se

One day a monk came to his teacher and asked. Teacher, I have been a monk for this long years, I have followed the path of ancient monks, to the best of my ability, I have meditated on mountain tops. Survived with one meal per day. I have spoken in soft words, walked in forest paths in silence. But, Who am I? I don't have answer to this. Who am I master? Can you give me an answer?

Who am I?

The old monk, saw the frustration and eagerness of the young monks' eyes. He was kind, he wanted to help. So, he asked the young monk. Not one but a series of questions.

Son, did you wake up before sunrise today?

Yes, master I did, I woke up before the sun.

Did you groom yourself in cold water, and clean up your cave

Yes, I did clean up myself. And cleaned my cave.

Did you sweep the forest floor, and water the plants.

Yes, I did clean the forest floor, watered the plants.

Did you have your breakfast, from the nearby village?

Yes, I walked with my bowl and had my breakfast from the village.

Did you meditate afterwards, in the peaceful part of the monastery?

Yes, I mediated for good half an hour in peace.

Did you get confused after doing all that and came rushing to meet me?

Yes, master! I did. I was so confused after that I came running to meet you.

Did you ask the question "Who am I from Me?"

Yes, master! I asked the question, "Who am I?" Can you please tell me who am I?

Yes, I can.

You are the one who, woke up this morning, before the sun, who groomed yourself in cold water and cleaned up your cave, who, swept the forest floor, watered the plants, who had the breakfast in the nearby village, and who meditated in the peace of the monastery, and who was confused, and asked the question who am I? You are all of that. There is nothing more and nothing less to that.

Who is reading?

Who am I? An essay type answer.

Sometimes obvious answers to our question, is hardest to reach as it is too simple. Having been a student of mindfulness, having observed myself day after day, I would come to the same conclusion as the above young monk. The life, consciousness, or mind seems to be a mechanism which constantly deluding itself by trying to reach a conclusion about life. A definite answer to the question who am I? But it seems, answer to the question Who am I? is not a best response type. Answer to the Question is an essay type answer. Where a single sentence of that essay would not make any meaning, unless it is interpreted in context.

Now at this point a real question someone would ask is, how can an essay contain a meaning, which is not there in individual letters by themselves. Isn't it all depending on the interpreter?