--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In order to answer the question “Who am…" description: "\"“In order to answer the question “Who am I?”, in order to go back to before the beginning within your own experience, you have to put your attention on..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/andrew-cohen-13071_empty-space_in-order-to-answer-the-question-who-am-i_2837691.jpg" --- # In order to answer the question “Who am I?”, in order to… ![“In order to answer the question “Who am I?”, in order to go back to before the beginning within your own experience, you have to put your attention on the deepest sense of what it feels like to be yourself right now, and simultaneously let everything else go. Letting go means falling so deeply…” quote by Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/andrew-cohen-13071_empty-space_in-order-to-answer-the-question-who-am-i_2837691.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/andrew-cohen-13071_empty-space_in-order-to-answer-the-question-who-am-i_2837691.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/andrew-cohen-13071_empty-space_in-order-to-answer-the-question-who-am-i_2837691.jpg) > ““In order to answer the question “Who am I?”, in order to go back to before the beginning within your own experience, you have to put your attention on the deepest sense of what it feels like to be yourself right now, and simultaneously let everything else go. Letting go means falling so deeply into yourself that all that is left is empty space. To discover that infinite depth in your own self, you must find a way to enter into a deep state of meditation—so deep that your awareness of thought moves into the background and eventually disappears. As your awareness detaches itself from the thought-stream, your identification with emotion and memory begins to fall away. When awareness of thought disappears, awareness of the passing of time disappears along with it. If you keep penetrating into the infinite depths of your own self, even your awareness of your own physical form will disappear. If you go deep enough, letting your attention expand and release from all objects in consciousness, you will find that all the structures of the created universe begin to crumble before your eyes. Awareness itself—limitless, empty, pristine—becomes the only object of your attention. As your attention is released from the conditioned mind-process, freed from the confines of the body and the boundaries of the personal self-sense, the inner dimension of your own experience begins to open up to an immeasurable degree. Imagine that you have been fast asleep in a small, dark chamber, then suddenly awaken to find yourself floating in the infinite expanse of a vast, peaceful ocean. That’s what this journey to the depths of your own self feels like. You become aware of a limitless dimension that you did not even know was there. Moments before, you may have experienced yourself as being trapped, a prisoner of your body, mind, and emotions. But when you awaken to this new dimension, all sense of confinement disappears. You find yourself resting in, and as, boundless empty space. In that empty space, the mind is completely still; there is no time, no memory, not even a trace of personal history. And the deeper you fall into that space, the more everything will continue to fall away, until finally all that will be left is you. When you let absolutely everything go—body, mind, memory, and time—you will find, miraculously, that you still exist. In fact, in the end, you discover that all that exists is you!”” [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Deep meditation dissolves personal identity, revealing boundless awareness beyond thought, emotion, and physical form. **In simple terms:** Meditation can erase the sense of self, exposing infinite space. Key Takeaway Practice deep meditation to experience boundless awareness. Themes self‑exploration consciousness spirituality mindfulness Mood calm wonder introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal retreat - guided meditation - mind‑body retreat - spiritual crisis Key Concepts non‑dualism emptiness transcendence Questions to Reflect On - How does letting go of thoughts change your sense of self? - What obstacles arise when seeking boundless awareness? A Different Perspective Depth of meditation may be inaccessible without proper guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Empty space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empty-space/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Passing Of Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passing-of-time/) [Personal history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-history/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Self Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-awareness-3/) [Stillness-of-the-mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stillness-of-the-mind/) ## Related quotes > [“The height of your achievements is determined by the depth of your self-belief, the strength of your resolve and the intensity of your efforts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roopleen/the-height-of-your-achievements-is-determined-by-the-depth-of-your/) Roopleen > [The heights of your achievements are determined by the depth of your self-belief, the strength of your resolve and the intensity of your efforts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-heights-of-your-achievements-are-determined-by-the-depth-of-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I go fishing for a thousand monsters in the depths of my own self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/i-go-fishing-for-a-thousand-monsters-in-the-depths-of-my-own-self/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [To disappear into deep water or to disappear toward a far horizon, to become part of depth of infinity, such is the destiny of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-bachelard/to-disappear-into-deep-water-or-to-disappear-toward-a-far-horizon-to/) [Gaston Bachelard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-bachelard/) > [“Writing is all at once an exploration of what is, and what is not. 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Being friends, being brothers, loving, that is what opens the prison, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/do-you-know-what-makes-the-prison-disappear-every-deep-genuine/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [Real meditation we get from within or from a spiritual Master. We can never get it from books. From books we can get inspiration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/real-meditation-we-get-from-within-or-from-a-spiritual-master-we-can/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [At its core, meditation is about touching the spiritual essence that exists within us all. Our spiritual essence is not something that we create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-hoopes/at-its-core-meditation-is-about-touching-the-spiritual-essence-that/) [Aaron Hoopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-hoopes/) > [If you become very close to your teacher, if you do well in your meditation, a deep emotional bond will develop between both of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-become-very-close-to-your-teacher-if-you-do-well-in-your/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [In dwelling, be close to the land. In meditation, go deep in the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/in-dwelling-be-close-to-the-land-in-meditation-go-deep-in-the-heart/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [In dwelling, be close to the land. In meditation, go deep in the heart. In dealing with others, be gentle and kind. In speech,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/in-dwelling-be-close-to-the-land-in-meditation-go-deep-in-the-heart-2/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Towards the end of your meditation session, or when you feel your meditation is deep, chant "Kring" seven times. Repeat it with sharp intensity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/towards-the-end-of-your-meditation-session-or-when-you-feel-your/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Don't think the purpose of meditation is to go deep into consciousness, wrap a blanket around yourself, and say, 'How cozy! I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/don-t-think-the-purpose-of-meditation-is-to-go-deep-into/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) ## More by Andrew Cohen > [“If you know only one language, you're a prisoner, stuck in the tyranny of that one language.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cohen/if-you-know-only-one-language-you-re-a-prisoner-stuck-in-the-tyranny/) [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) > [Spiritual experiences and their results are not meant for the individual. They are for the evolution of the whole race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cohen/spiritual-experiences-and-their-results-are-not-meant-for-the/) [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) > [I am already inherently full and complete as I am. Man doesn't need woman and woman doesn't need man in order to experience his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cohen/i-am-already-inherently-full-and-complete-as-i-am-man-doesn-t-need/) [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) > [Freedom has no history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cohen/freedom-has-no-history/) [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) > [Whenever a human being ceases to live for themselves and begins to care about that which is greater than themselves, the personality begins to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cohen/whenever-a-human-being-ceases-to-live-for-themselves-and-begins-to/) [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) > [The executive branch maneuvered this result deftly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cohen/the-executive-branch-maneuvered-this-result-deftly/) [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) > [Most men are very attached to the idea of being male, and usually experience a lot of fear and insecurity around the idea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cohen/most-men-are-very-attached-to-the-idea-of-being-male-and-usually/) [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) > [Its taken 14 billion years for matter to gain the capacity to become conscious of itself. If this is true, it wouldn't make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cohen/its-taken-14-billion-years-for-matter-to-gain-the-capacity-to-become/) [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) > [Anyone who wants to be truly free must be willing to stand alone in the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cohen/anyone-who-wants-to-be-truly-free-must-be-willing-to-stand-alone-in/) [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) > [To campaign against colonialism is like barking up a tree that has already been cut down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cohen/to-campaign-against-colonialism-is-like-barking-up-a-tree-that-has/) [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) > [We are all capable of greatness when we know without any doubt that we are directly connected to a higher purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cohen/we-are-all-capable-of-greatness-when-we-know-without-any-doubt-that/) [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) > [It is not enough to be well-intentioned; one must strive to put those intentions into action in a capable way. One must consider the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cohen/it-is-not-enough-to-be-well-intentioned-one-must-strive-to-put-those/) [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) > [I believe that any individual who has spiritually awakened in our time, to the degree that he or she finds a higher and deeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cohen/i-believe-that-any-individual-who-has-spiritually-awakened-in-our/) [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) > [“The dynamic, future-oriented, ecstatically inspired state of the evolutionary impulse is the new enlightenment that I am speaking about. The inner eye has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cohen/the-dynamic-future-oriented-ecstatically-inspired-state-of-the/) [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) > [A lot of people in spiritual life use the awareness of difference, and the spiritual glorification of difference, as a justification to indulge in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cohen/a-lot-of-people-in-spiritual-life-use-the-awareness-of-difference-and/) [Andrew Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) [Explore all 52 Andrew Cohen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cohen/) ## More Empty space quotes > [“Love. Such a sweet, simple word. A word I've been searching for my entire life - but especially since I met Eio - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-khoury/love-such-a-sweet-simple-word-a-word-i-ve-been-searching-for-my/) [Jessica Khoury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-khoury/) > [Our real nature is not our imaginary, limited ego. Our true nature is vast, all-comprehensive, and intangible as empty space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anagarika-govinda/our-real-nature-is-not-our-imaginary-limited-ego-our-true-nature-is/) [Anagarika Govinda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anagarika-govinda/) > [“Everything we perceive to be solid and static is made up of almost entirely empty space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/everything-we-perceive-to-be-solid-and-static-is-made-up-of-almost/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [It's everywhere, really. It's between the galaxies. It is in this room. We believe that everywhere that you have space, empty space, that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-riess/it-s-everywhere-really-it-s-between-the-galaxies-it-is-in-this-room/) [Adam Riess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-riess/) > [Would you believe me if I said I was sorry The question wasn't mean to hurt, It was just my fear of losing you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/every-avenue/would-you-believe-me-if-i-said-i-was-sorry-the-question-wasn-t-mean/) Every Avenue > [Now, almost one hundred years later, it is difficult to fully appreciate how much our picture of the universe has changed in the span…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-m-krauss/now-almost-one-hundred-years-later-it-is-difficult-to-fully/) [Lawrence M. Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-m-krauss/) > [“An atom is mostly made up of empty space. If you remove the empty space from every atom, the entire world's human population could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weike-wang/an-atom-is-mostly-made-up-of-empty-space-if-you-remove-the-empty/) [Weike Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weike-wang/) > [“The door opened after a few moments. Sherlock was looking slightly upwards, expecting Amyus Crowe to be standing inside the doorway, and for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lane/the-door-opened-after-a-few-moments-sherlock-was-looking-slightly/) [Andrew Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lane/) > [“The thirty spokes unite in the one nave; but it is on the empty space (for the axle), that the use of the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/the-thirty-spokes-unite-in-the-one-nave-but-it-is-on-the-empty-space/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“She inhabited a world from which I was excluded, and she had left me in an immense empty space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-hayes/she-inhabited-a-world-from-which-i-was-excluded-and-she-had-left-me/) [Alfred Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-hayes/) > [Losing my daughter was a very serious pain. There was always some empty space in my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/losing-my-daughter-was-a-very-serious-pain-there-was-always-some/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [At the moment, I'm toying with a new idea for a book, but fully engaged with writing screenplays, so the book idea - which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-tremain/at-the-moment-i-m-toying-with-a-new-idea-for-a-book-but-fully-engaged/) [Rose Tremain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-tremain/) > [“The first time I walked through the spacious house, I didn't see possibility or a new start. I saw a big, empty space. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-talbot/the-first-time-i-walked-through-the-spacious-house-i-didn-t-see/) [Jill Talbot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-talbot/) > [“All my life, I've been trying to fill an emptiness inside. But that emptiness...I've built myself around it. Filling it in would be like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-charlton/all-my-life-i-ve-been-trying-to-fill-an-emptiness-inside-but-that/) [Blake Charlton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-charlton/) > [“Where are we headed? Are we not endlessly plunging —backwards, sideways, forwards, in all directions? Is there an up and a down anymore? Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/where-are-we-headed-are-we-not-endlessly-plunging-backwards-sideways/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) [Browse all 453 Empty space quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empty-space/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In order to answer the question “Who am I?”, in order to go back to before the beginning within your own experience, you have to put your attention on the deepest sense of what it feels like to be yourself right now, and simultaneously let everything else go. Letting go means falling so deeply into yourself that all that is left is empty space. To discover that infinite depth in your own self, you must find a way to enter into a deep state of meditation—so deep that your awareness of thought moves into the background and eventually disappears. As your awareness detaches itself from the thought-stream, your identification with emotion and memory begins to fall away. When awareness of thought disappears, awareness of the passing of time disappears along with it. If you keep penetrating into the infinite depths of your own self, even your awareness of your own physical form will disappear. If you go deep enough, letting your attention expand and release from all objects in consciousness, you will find that all the structures of the created universe begin to crumble before your eyes. Awareness itself—limitless, empty, pristine—becomes the only object of your attention. As your attention is released from the conditioned mind-process, freed from the confines of the body and the boundaries of the personal self-sense, the inner dimension of your own experience begins to open up to an immeasurable degree. Imagine that you have been fast asleep in a small, dark chamber, then suddenly awaken to find yourself floating in the infinite expanse of a vast, peaceful ocean. That’s what this journey to the depths of your own self feels like. You become aware of a limitless dimension that you did not even know was there. Moments before, you may have experienced yourself as being trapped, a prisoner of your body, mind, and emotions. But when you awaken to this new dimension, all sense of confinement disappears. You find yourself resting in, and as, boundless empty space. In that empty space, the mind is completely still; there is no time, no memory, not even a trace of personal history. 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