A Case of Mistaken Identity (excerpts from Wes Nisker)
The following extracts are from Mr. Nisker’s newest book, Being Nature, and are included as part of our collection, Envisioning Transformation. Being Nature is an updated edition of his classic book on Buddhism and evolutionary biology, Buddha's Nature.
To Study the Self
Chapter 1: A Case of Mistaken Identity
According to the world’s great spiritual traditions and perennial philosophies, the critical question that each of us must ask ourselves is, “Who am I?”
If you were asked to describe yourself, how would you respond?
In our time, many of us seem to be increasingly lost in our personal dramas.
Perhaps strangest of all, we experience human society and our human life as different from nature.
Why did we pry ourselves loose from earth and sky and other creatures?
According to the Bible, we were once integrated with the natural world.
It was not into sin that we fell. We fell out of the garden of oneness.
The concept of self changes over time.
The self that pervades the modern world is completely convinced of its autonomy and separateness.
Now we have come full circle, at least in our knowledge of ourselves.
If we could only… integrate our knowledge of interconnection and let it infuse our lives—that would mark a revolution in both consciousness and behavior.
Wes Nisker is author of nine (9) books, a briliant comedian, a revered Buddhist meditation instructor, a San Francisco radio legend, founder / co-editor of Inquiring Mind, the international Buddhist journal, a faculty member at Omega Institute, a popular leader / speaker at numerous Buddhist retreats, an affiliate of Spirit Rock Meditation Center, a teacher at Esalen Institute and University of California, and more. Of his latest book, Being Nature, Thich Nhat Hanh said, “One of the best efforts yet to bring together meditators and scientists. It is an instrument for our greater joy and achievements.” Learn more about Being Nature: A Down-to-Earth Guide to the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. Learn more about Wes by visiting WesNisker.com.
