21 Lessons for the 21st Century

by Yuval Noah Harari

This is one of the most ancient and important questions encountered by anybody who embarks on a serious journey of inner exploration. As long as I simply identify with the constant stream of thoughts and feelings that pop into my mind, I think I know exactly who I am. Once I stop identifying with whatever pops into my mind, I start asking, “So who am I? Who is observing all these thoughts and feelings? Who is asking these questions? And who can discover the truth?” There is no easy intellectual answer to any of these questions. The only way to answer them is to directly observe the reality, which is a very difficult thing to do. That’s why most people never do it and instead just believe in some philosophical or religious story. If you are seriously interested in getting answers, I would recommend committing to a practice of inner exploration, accepting that it usually takes years—rather than days and weeks—to start getting real answers. The practice can be meditation, but it can also be therapy, art, or even sports. Different practices work for different people. The only thing that never works for anybody is pure intellectual speculation. You will never get answers by just reading books, discussing theories, and contemplating thoughts.