Who are we, truly? Observing a river’s flow, we grasp its entirety without noticing the myriad water molecules within, interacting in complex ways. Our perception, inherently limited, captures only the river’s visible essence. Science has expanded our awareness, revealing not only the intricacies of water molecules but also the unseen universe beyond. Yet, our daily perceptions often mislead us, embedding misconceptions in our minds as truths. For instance, the notion of a “flowing river” simplifies a more complex reality: the river’s motion is not a singular flow but a collective movement of molecules, directed by gravity. The river we see now differs from the one an hour ago, yet we perceive it as unchanged. We might think of the Otter River as constant, but in truth, it’s ever-changing, its composition and identity shifting with time.
Similarly, human nature mirrors the river’s transience. Our cells regenerate constantly, rendering us materially different from year to year. Biologically, the person of today is not the person of tomorrow. Yet, we are recognized as the same entity, akin to perceiving two distinct iterations of steel as identical.
What, then, defines a human? Borrowing a philosopher’s perspective, humans are “passing beings,” temporary carriers of energy, sharing the birthright of trees, flowers, and animals. Born from Earth’s conducive conditions, we return to it, transient occupants on a geological timescale. From a cosmic viewpoint, humanity resembles microorganisms on a speck of dust, not insignificant but part of a fascinating narrative of life’s abundance on Earth. We participate in the Earth’s cyclical ecosystem, born from it and destined to return.
Living with this consciousness, being human is a blend of privilege and constraint. We are privileged to experience the world with profound perception, yet we face the limitations of our human form. Unlike the boundless wind or the vast sea, we cannot traverse the world with the same freedom or depth. Our senses, though keen, fall short of a dog’s scent or a bat’s echolocation. We are not equipped to glide through the sea like fish or soar through the skies like birds. Grounded in our humanity, we engage deeply with the world, crafting complex ideas and understanding its myriad facets. Yet, at our core, we are part of Earth’s ecosystem, participants in its endless cycles of life and death. Poetically speaking, humans are “beings crossing over,” transient in nature yet fundamentally connected to Earth’s rhythms.
By embracing our ephemeral existence, we transcend mere human identity, aligning ourselves with the Earth’s perpetual flow. This realization, deepened through meditation, allows us to embody the expansiveness of a sea or lake, or the liberty of the wind and air. It enables us to traverse the globe freely, enriching our experiences and broadening our perspectives. In acknowledging our role in the broader tapestry of life, we find a deeper connection to the world and a more expansive understanding of our place within it.