Seeker

I remember taking a course in philosophy a number of years ago. The lecturer used a book called "In Search of the Miraculous" by P.D. Ouspensky. I found it dealt with this topic directly, our consciousness and perceptions of "I".

From memory, it was suggested that to attain the answer is indeed difficult, as we seem to have a series of "I's". To explain this a situation was used... When you are driving and your mind is focused on a specific problem or thought elsewhere in your life, who is driving the car? You go through the mechanical motions, but who is it that sees the red lights? Who gives way to oncoming traffic? Sometimes you find yourself in the driveway and remember nothing of the trip because your mind was on something else.

To work through this series of "I's", a system approach was presented and it was explained that certain Eastern teachings have found that man consists of four bodies to work through;

1st body - Carnal body, the "Carriage" - (body), the Physical Body
2nd body - Natural body, the "Horse" - (feelings, desires), the Astral Body
3rd body - Spiritual body, the "Driver" - (mind), the Mental Body
4th body - Devine body, the "Master" - (I, consciousness, will), the Causal Body

This is an example that was believed to be consistant within most systems and teachings which recognise something more in man than the physical body. There are different levels within our being, and within each body it is possible to learn and grow toward an ultimate "I", one that is not split and fragmented as in the driving senario above.

I'm not sure if this helps with your questioning, but this has been my experience with your question... and perhaps something I might re-read as it has been a while.

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To those who wander but who are not lost...

~ Knowledge is not something you acquire, it is something you open yourself to.