It’s easy to forget that we are not the mind.
In fact, forgetting this seems almost built into being human. Day after day, our attention is pulled into thoughts, opinions, judgments, and inner commentary, until it feels as though this—the mental activity—is who we are. When that happens, a subtle sense of separation often follows. We begin to feel cut off from others, alone inside our own heads, and quietly dissatisfied in ways that are hard to name.
You can usually see this at work when the mind starts emphasizing differences.
Maybe it shows up as political opinions, religious beliefs, or cultural identities. Maybe it’s something more personal. Education, intelligence, lifestyle, values. Sometimes the differences feel harmless. Other times they harden into judgments. We compare. We measure. We draw lines. And often, without realizing it, the mind is looking for reassurance. Something to hold onto that says, this is who I am.
When that urge appears, it can be helpful to pause and notice it rather than follow it.
Noticing doesn’t mean condemning the mind or trying to silence it. It just means recognizing what’s happening. The mind is doing what it does best: creating distinctions and building a sense of self around them. It’s not malicious. It’s habitual.
If you look closely, you might see that when the mind labels others as ignorant, misguided, or inferior, it’s often reacting to its own insecurity. The very qualities it criticizes are the ones it’s most invested in defending. That doesn’t make the thoughts wrong, it just reveals their source.
On the surface, of course, we appear to be separate individuals. We have different bodies, histories, personalities, and perspectives. There’s no need to deny that. But when identification with the mind loosens, even slightly, another way of seeing becomes available. The differences don’t disappear, but they lose some of their weight. They no longer define the whole picture.
You may notice this in simple moments. Listening to someone you disagree with, watching your own opinions shift over time, realizing how certain beliefs that once felt absolute have quietly fallen away. Flags change. Borders move. Roles dissolve. Even the thoughts you were convinced of yesterday may feel irrelevant tomorrow.
When the impulse to magnify differences arises, it can serve as a quiet reminder rather than a problem. A reminder to look beneath the surface. To recognize that what you’re reacting to is passing, conditional, and shaped by circumstance.
What remains—beneath opinions, identities, and mental noise—is something far more stable. And when attention rests there, even briefly, others are no longer seen primarily as opponents or strangers. They’re seen as variations within the same field of life.
In that recognition, the sense of separation softens. And without trying to improve or fix anything, you may find that you’re meeting both yourself and others with a little more ease.
Summary:
This article explores the idea that we are not our minds and that the mind’s tendency to create separation is a major obstacle on the spiritual path. By identifying with the mind, we reinforce a sense of individuality that leads to division and suffering. The key to spiritual growth is recognizing this illusion of separateness and shifting our awareness toward a deeper truth—one that reveals our fundamental unity with others.
Main Points:
- The Mind Creates Separation – Identification with the mind leads to division by emphasizing differences in politics, religion, culture, race, and other aspects of identity.
- The Illusion of Individuality – The perception that we are separate from others is an illusion, reinforced by the ego’s need for validation.
- Recognizing Unity – By seeing beyond the mind’s constructs, we can uncover a deeper reality where differences fade, and unity becomes clear.
Key Questions:
- Why is it important to recognize that we are not our minds?
- How does the mind create a sense of separation between individuals?
- Why do people focus on differences, and how does it affect their sense of self?
- What is the illusion of individuality, and how can we see beyond it?
- How can recognizing unity change the way we interact with others?
