What Makes Us Individuals?

When we consider our physical bodies, we discover that we are, really, a collection of recycled molecules. Cells of our body are created, die, and are replaced many times throughout our lives. We are constantly remaking ourselves. In order to regenerate, our bodies convert the food we eat into basic building blocks of life.

The earth itself provides the nutrients we need to renew ourselves, and when we shed cells, they are returned to the earth. We might say, then, that we are constantly transforming our physical bodies by recycling earth.

Next, consider our emotions. Emotions are just recycled energy. Emotions do not originate with us. They come and go depending on situations, circumstances, relationships, and events.

Emotions are never created in isolation; they always come about because of some interaction with the environment. In the absence of circumstances or relationships, there is no emotion. So even though I may fly into a rage, it is not actually my anger. It is anger that has settled on me for the moment. Each emotion is dependent on the context, circumstances, and relationships that define your reality at that moment.

And what about our thoughts? Well, our thoughts are recycled information. Every thought we have is actually part of a collective database. All but the most original thoughts are actually quantum leaps of creativity that occur from that same collective, recycled bed of imagination.

So if our bodies are recycled earth, our emotions are recycled energy, and our thoughts are recycled information, what is it that makes you an individual? According to many of the great spiritual traditions, one of the great truths is that “I am the other.” Without the other, we would not exist.

Adapted from The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire, by Deepak Chopra (Three Rivers Press).

Read more: Deepak Chopra's Tips, Spirit, bodies, emotions, recycled, soul, thoughts

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Angela N.

5:04PM PDT on Mar 27, 2012

Great!

send a green star

KARLOLINA G.

5:33AM PDT on Sep 26, 2011

Lovely

Michele W.

11:35AM PDT on Jul 4, 2011

Thank you

KS G.

5:21AM PST on Dec 9, 2010

Thanks for the article.

Melissah C.

8:32PM PST on Nov 20, 2010

thanks

Julie F.

8:38PM PDT on Jul 27, 2010

merci

Bon L.

7:04AM PDT on Jul 21, 2010

Inez Deborah A.

4:42PM PDT on May 24, 2010

Just diluted Buddhist theory

NO EMAILS P.

12:34AM PDT on May 24, 2010

thanks for post

Karilyn K.

6:02PM PDT on May 17, 2010

I think that our emotions and thoughts are "ours" we can own them as it is our unique way of processing and reacting to the world arround us.
Perhaps we are frequently in each other's negative space, and the molecules we use tools for the soul's self expression - but I think that they are as "ours" as the songs I write, the paintings I paint, and this idea that I have.