Self Defense Against Identification

Self Defense Against Identification

Separating from Identification is quite a challenge; in fact, identification is the opposite of separation. It is instructive to initially learn about this obstacle to presence by examining it when you see it manifest in others. Some forms of sleep are quite invisible from the outside – such as being in imagination or inner considering – but many forms of identification can be seen easily by observing others. When someone is identified, they seem to be possessed and “not themselves.” A state of identification takes hold in them to the exclusion of everything else. When I am identified, I often lose my sense of identity in things that are external or in past experiences that have left an unresolved marker or account in the emotional center.

Self-remembering is self-defense against imagination and identification. — The Teacher

Certain triggers can suddenly spark identification unless I have made some advanced preparation to thwart its power over me. Awareness, observation, and preparation are key tools for grappling with identification. Having observed and prepared for a particular recurring, small identification in advance affords me time to remember myself at the onset before it is too late. I can become identified when I recall a past intense emotional experience — for example, injustice — or simply by something external drawing my focus of attention into an identified state — such as the example shared recently by a member of our group when their hot water heater failed.

So long as we are identified with someone or something, we will never be free. — Attar

Because the speed of identification is so fast, I need to catch my response within a split second before I am completely absorbed and forget myself. Separating from identification is an untapped energy source. Rather than losing myself, the abundance of energy can be used to build my Self. If I have made observations and have prepared new attitudes to confront an identification (this could simply mean recognizing what events tend to evoke it) then I have formed a little more distance between the object of identification and my ability to respond to it. If I practice with small identifications, gradually the wisdom gained through this can eventually be used to struggle with the larger ones, such as money, relationships, jobs, religion, politics, etc.

People cannot detect that all religions are the same because they are identified with their own. People become very identified with their own religion, which keeps them asleep. — The Teacher

I was able to observe intense identification happening to a friend when they discovered that a sensitive and confidential text inadvertently ended up getting sent to the wrong person. This experience and panic are not uncommon to many of us. To make matters worse, it was sent to his daughter’s supervisor, who had the same first name as the intended recipient. And with a touch of a button, the message was sent and identification ensued.

What I noticed was that my friend was so flustered that they could hardly operate their iPhone. He was all thumbs and could not think calmly or logically about the circumstances. As I made suggestions, I realized he could not even hear what I was saying because the identified voice in his head was so loud. Luckily for my friend, he is a student of the Fourth Way and has seen and worked against identification on many occasions in the past. Even though he became identified, he was able to recover quickly. The measure of progress can be seen either in separating from an identification at the onset or the ability to minimize the timespan of losing energy in this state of sleep and returning to self-remembering and mindful presence as quickly as possible.

Identifying with friction only makes it stronger. It is easy to identify with friction and it is a miracle to transform it. — The Teacher

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Krishna Killing the Horse Demon Keshi, India 5th century